The Politics of Perception

In The Politics of Perception, Katelyn E. Stauffer tackles one of the central debates in research on women and politics--to what extent does the presence of women in office shape citizens'' confidence in government and their views on democratic legitimacy? Stauffer unpacks the contradictions of previous research and offers clear and compelling evidence that Americans view women''s inclusion as a component of good governance. Moreover, Stauffer shows that perceptions of women''s inclusion also leads to an increase in positive associations with the legislative process, as well as greater confidence in institutions'' policy expertise and ability to produce effective outcomes across a host of issue areas.