By Jackson Hall
(Submitted as part of the Open Politics Student Blogs)

In 2024, the United States once again had the chance to elect a woman to the highest office in the land. But the ultimate glass ceiling in US politics remained unshattered. Instead, voters returned Donald Trump to the White House with a coveted second term, following his 2017-2021 first term.  

So, why has the presidency continued to elude female candidates, and will the US ever be ready to elect a female President?

Historical female representation

Shaped by traditional and religious values, the role of women in the young republic was markedly domestic. Women were systematically excluded from key professions and academic disciplines like law, politics and economics – hence the “Founding Fathers.”

Still, trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony (a women’s rights activist in the 1800s), Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady, diplomat and activist from the 1940s), and Shirley Chisholm (the first black woman to be elected to Congress in the 1960s), made lasting contributions over the years. Since Jeannette Rankin’s 1916 election to the House of Representatives, female political representation has steadily increased.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win a major US political party’s nomination. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first female Vice President, and in 2024, she became only the second woman to lead a presidential ticket. Yet, as Dr. Dianne Bystrom, Director Emerita at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, notes, “less than 30% of the US Congress is comprised of women.” [1]

Women elected to both houses of US congress, 1917 to present day

Data compiled by author
[Sourced: "History of Women in the U.S. Congress", Center website for American Woman and Politics]

Societal attitudes towards women

Dr. Bystrom’s book Gender and Politics: Changing the Face of Civic Life, co-authored with Mary Christine Banwart, highlights the enduring impact of gender stereotypes.

Moreover, over half of Americans agree that women have to work harder than men to prove themselves. Nearly two-thirds say it’s not personally important to them if a woman is elected President in their lifetime. Moreover, sexism was a notable factor in the 2020 election.

Yet public opinion is divided: over half of Americans also believe the country would be better governed if more women held political office.

Barriers women face in politics

There are no constitutional barriers to a female President, but unofficial hurdles remain:

• Political background: Of the 46 US presidents, 38 had political experience. Women currently make up only 30% of Congress and hold just 13 out of 50 governorships, so fewer women are positioned to launch credible campaigns.
• Public image: 58% of Americans say showing emotion hurts women’s electoral chances; only 33% say the same for men. Having young children is also seen as a disadvantage for women candidates (48%), but not for men (7%).
• Media: Bystrom argues female candidates face more sexist and stereotypical media coverage than men.
• Fundraising: Campaigning is expensive, and women are often disadvantaged in accessing donor networks and political action committees (PACs).
• Party backing: The two-party system means major party backing is essential—something that has historically favored male candidates.

Even when women overcome these hurdles, they still face an electorate that may not be ready.

Changing voter demographics

There is hope in demographic change. Younger generations, for example, tend to hold more progressive views, and the US is becoming more diverse. Since 1990, the non-white population has nearly doubled to over 40%, while non-Hispanic whites have declined from 75% to 58%.

Women of colour, a highly politically engaged group, could play a pivotal role. Women also now outnumber men in higher education, and college-educated voters are less likely to hold sexist views. In 2016, Clinton won the popular vote by nearly three million, backed by a coalition of women, people of colour, and young voters. But it wasn’t enough to win the Electoral College.

In 2024, Harris failed to win either the popular vote or the Electoral College. Some analysts cite President Joe Biden’s baggage (he stood down as Democrat candidate and Harris stepped in amidst some controversy), the subsequent later launch of her campaign, and an inability to build a winning coalition of demographics. Trump gained ground with young black men, Hispanic voters, and even made modest gains with women.

Magaland: an increasingly toxic US

Today’s political environment may be more toxic than ever. Bystrom opinions, “Trump won votes from those less informed, less likely to watch mainstream media, and more likely to rely on right-wing media or podcasts.” More generally, across the political spectrum, many believe there is growing polarization, the threat of ‘fake news’, and a lack of trust in mainstream politicians/media. Despite being found liable for sexual abuse and making openly derogatory remarks about women, Trump prevailed to win the 2024 election.

Bystrom fears Democrats may hesitate to nominate another woman in 2028, just as they did after Clinton’s 2016 defeat.

Breaking the highest barrier in US politics

 “I am becoming less optimistic that a woman will be elected US president in my lifetime,” says Bystrom. “It took a 72-year campaign for women to get the right to vote in the US, and they have increased their representation in politics over time. But, still, a woman has not broken the highest glass ceiling - the presidency.”

The path to the presidency remains steep, perhaps even more so today in Trump’s Magaland, but noting historical progress, higher representation and shifting demographics, the world should still expect a female president. We might just have to wait a little while longer.

[1] All quotes from J. Hall interview with Dr. Dianne Bystrom, Director Emerita at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, 29^th March 2025