4pm Royale Discussion Series: Political Science The 2008 Election: So Where Does it Leave Women? March 22, 2009

The 2008 election year was one of firsts- Hillary Clinton came closer than any other woman to obtaining a major party nomination. Sarah Palin was poised as the second woman in history to be selected as a major party running mate and the first Republican female vice-presidential nominee. Ultimately, neither Clinton nor Palin were successful in their pursuits. Overall, what significance does this have for women? While the outcome still broke new ground in the election of the first African-American president, why does the presidency and the vice-presidency continue to be male domains? In what ways does the 2008 election both challenge and reinforce our assumptions of how gender relates to executive office? What light does it shed on women as voters?

This happy hour will be hosted by Farida Jalalzai of UMSL.

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY:
Farida Jalalzai received her Ph.D. in Political Science in 2004 from the University of Buffalo. Her research analyzes the representation and behavior of women and minorities in politics and the role of gender in the political arena. Her work primarily focuses on women national leaders, exploring the ascensions of women as prime ministers and presidents around the world and the powers women are able to exercise in their positions. Her body of work in this area has been published in the following journals-Women and Politics (2004) Politics & Gender (2008) International Political Science Review (forthcoming 2009) Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy (forthcoming 2009 )and is also featured in a new edited collection- Women of the World (2009). She is currently completing a book length manuscript on this subject entitled Women Rule: Shattering the Executive Glass Ceiling. Other relevant research topics including analyzing gender and campaign coverage (Politics & Policy 2006), the behavior of political widows compared to the husbands they replaced in Congress (Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy 2008), and the determinants of tenure for women in the House of Representatives (work in progress). She is also currently researching Muslims and their political behavior since 9-11 both nationally and in the Saint Louis area (Politics & Religion forthcoming 2009) in which gender is featured as a central factor.

Some of her other activities include serving as the chair of the race, gender, and ethnicity section of the Northeastern Political Science Association, faculty advisor for the UM Saint Louis Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life Leadership Academy and the content advisor for the International Museum of Women based in San Francisco.