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.

Katelyn E. Stauffer is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia. Her research addresses questions related to how the public responds to the presence of women in positions of power and how women wield power in non-elected positions. Her work has been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review and American Journal of Political Science among other outlets, and her research has been the recipient of multiple awards.