Karen L. Owen is assistant professor of political science and the director of the Master of Public Administration program at Reinhardt University.

List of Tables
List of Figures
Chapter 1: Women's Ascension into American Politics
Chapter 2: Defining the Who and What that Emboldens the Ascension of Women to Higher Political Office
Chapter 3: Deciding to Run for Higher Office: Females' Perspectives On Their Political Journeys
Chapter 4: Determinants of Women's Ascension to the U.S. House of Representatives
Chapter 5: Climbing Higher: Women's Ascension to the U.S. Senate
Chapter 6: Moving Across the Capitol: Women's Ascension to State Governorships
Chapter7: Female Politicians: Role Models Advancing Their Gender's Representation
Appendix A: Interview Schedule for Female Politicians
Appendix B: State Legislators' Emergence to the U.S. House of Representatives and State Governorships
Appendix C: Female Political Role Models
References
About the Author

This book explores a presumptive belief that female political role models influence other women's political participation. It presents extensive research showing that women's descriptive and symbolic representation affects other women's candidacy decisions and electoral successes when ascending to higher political offices.