In October 2013, after the war between Republican and Democratic men in Congress resulted in a government shutdown, Time magazine referred to the women legislators as “the only adults left in Washington.” In Why Congress Needs Women: Bringing Sanity to the House and Senate, editor Michele A. Paludi and various contributors explain how women in Washington have redefined leadership and power by embracing a transformational leadership style: a style that incorporates empowerment, ethics, nurturance, inclusiveness, and social justice, transcending their own self-interests for the good of the group—or, in the case of the shut-down, for the good of the nation.

A resource that will prove invaluable for anyone interested in politics and leadership as well as students taking courses in politics, women’s studies, gender studies, or management, the chapters provide an in-depth review of the ways women in Washington are striving to find lasting solutions to our nation’s challenges. The contributors document the mindset and methodologies women legislators are using to achieve their legislative goals and work toward creating gender-equitable environments in Washington’s well-established climate where bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation is perceived as normative. Insights from interviews with women senators and congress members enhance the scholarship discussed in this book.

Features

• Addresses how women in Washington have redefined leadership and power in terms of how they listen, work collaboratively, negotiate, facilitate change, communicate effectively, and empower and mentor others
• Identifies differences in the evidenced personal ethics between the genders in Congress that are reflective of their characters and professionalism—or lack thereof
• Provides examples of the unusual bipartisanship and civility can be seen in the informal "sisterhood" that women senators and representatives have established that allows for more mature and cooperative relationships