Overlooked and Undervalued: Gendered Prestige Hierarchies Among County Clerks

Objective While men are disproportionately represented in most elected US political institutions (e.g., Congress and state legislatures), some county‐level offices—such as clerkships—reach gender parity or are disproportionately held by women. Research on gender and work, however, suggests that men often maintain advantages within feminized fields. This study examines whether gender inequality persists within county clerkships, focusing on access to higher prestige positions. Methods Using survey data from county clerks in 14 states, we ask two questions: (1) Are men more likely to hold higher prestige county clerk positions? and (2) Do factors that shape advancement in national and state politics operate similarly at the local level? Results We find that men are more likely than women to hold more prestigious county clerk positions. However, traditional predictors of political careers—such as ambition, tenure, and prior experience—do not explain this disparity. Instead, advancement is primarily shaped by institutional processes, particularly encouragement associated with political party recruitment. These processes structure access to higher prestige roles and generate unequal returns for men and women. Conclusions These findings extend research on the glass escalator into elected office by demonstrating that even in women‐dominated political positions, gender inequality is reproduced through institutional gatekeeping that differentially channels and rewards candidates.