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Women Exert More Influence In States

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The Associated Press

Published: August 12, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y. - The number of women in state government leadership positions is on the rise, with the percentage nearly mirroring their representation in the general population in six states, a study has found.

Of the governor-appointed posts in all 50 states last year, 35 percent were held by women, up from 28 percent a decade earlier, according to the report by the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society at the University at Albany.

Researchers looked at the number of women named to top-ranking policy positions, such as heads of state agencies and senior advisers, and found that although women remain generally underrepresented, they've made significant strides in key areas.

"The most important thing is the fact that in 36 of the states, women are doing better than they were in 1997," said Judith Saidel, lead author and center director.

In Alaska, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, Vermont and Washington, the number of women in senior policy positions is roughly even with their percentage of the general population.

Florida ranked 20th, with 37 percent of the state's top posts going to women, who make up 51.2 percent of the population.

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