Type of Culminating Activity
Graduate Student Project
Graduation Date
5-2017
Degree Title
Master of Applied Historical Research
Department
History
Major Advisor
Jill Gill
Abstract
Female political ambition drops around high school, none of the 45 presidents of the United States have been female, and the history of female presidential candidates is largely absent from public memory. This project examines the connection between social perceptions of political involvement and the history of female politicians by creating a resource website of female presidential candidates in the United States. The website is meant to encourage youth political engagement, specifically the engagement of middle school to college-aged female students to lower the gender gap of political ambition. Without representation within American politics, many young women are not inspired to become politically involved. Ultimately the project examines how the presentation of these neglected narratives leverages history to provide encouragement, rather than to perpetuate one-dimensional histories. Historians need to question previously used paradigms and rhetorical lenses that framed certain people and events as insignificant, ultimately negatively impacting vulnerable and/or underrepresented demographics. The product of this thesis resides at girlsjustwannabepresident.wordpress.com.
Recommended Citation
Babb, KayCee, "Girls Just Wanna Be President: How the History of Female Presidential Candidates Affects Political Ambition and Engagement" (2017). History Graduate Projects and Theses. 8.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/history_gradproj/8