1.  In your judgement, what is the most significant barrier to women successfully winning elective office in U.S. politics? Why does it remain a barrier to office for women? Design a short or long-term strategy to overcome the barrier you've identified and elect more women to public office. In your answer, be sure to specify whether you are talking about local, state, or national office.





2.  Evaluate the success of women candidates since the 1992 elections, labeled by some as the "Year of the Woman." Given the relatively small numbers of women in elective office at the state and national levels, did 1992 signal a new era for women candidates?





3.  Identify and explain three reasons women may have a harder time than men raising political money. Does the research presented in Chapter Four suggest that women will continue to have difficulty raising money? In what ways is money important for women seeking office?





4.  How do gender stereotypes influence a woman candidate's campaign for public office? Does the media serve as a help or a hindrance in overcoming negative stereotypes? Explain.