Researchers at Stanford University and the University of Chicago recently published a study conducted from 1984 to 2004 on the performance of male and female members of the House of Representatives. The findings suggest that women in Congress introduce more bills, attract more co-sponsors, and secure more money for their districts than their male counterparts. The study found that women delivered approximately 9 percent more discretionary spending for their districts than men.  Representatives Judy Biggert, Zoe Lofgren, and Connie Morella all brought in more federal funding for their districts than their male predecessors did. Variables besides gender, including seniority, party affiliation, and the disparate priorities of veteran and freshman lawmakers, could undoubtedly affect the male-to-female comparisons made in the study. However, the researchers claim to have controlled for such factors when making their analyses.

According to the study, women also obtain more co-sponsors for their bills than other members and co-sponsor more bills themselves. Stanford University researcher Sarah Anzia explains: “We find that, on average, women sponsor about three bills more per Congress per term than their male counterparts.”[1]

Today, women make up nearly 17 percent of the House of Representatives, an increase from approximately 3 percent in 1979. According to the Lawless and Fox studies in 2004 and 2005, large majorities of both males and females in candidate feeder pools believe that there is continued bias against women in elections. Laurel Elder, political science department chairwoman at Hartwick College, says: “Research shows that even though women have similar success rates in primaries and elections as men, they are likely to face more challengers…The results might be the same, but they might have to work harder to get those same results.”[2] It is possible that the obstacles they overcame during the election process drive women on Capitol Hill to perform better, on average, than their male colleagues who faced fewer impediments.

However, Jyl Josephson, political science professor and director of the Rutgers Women’s Studies Program, warns not to overestimate gender differences on Capitol Hill. “We spend a lot time measuring gender differences rather than similarities,” Josephson says. “But there are many studies that show similarities, and they don’t get discussed nearly as much.”[3]

For more information, see http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27152.html

[1] Erika Lovley “Study: Women lawmakers outperform men” Politico (September 15, 2009). http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27152.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.