Enhancing political ambition in women: A field intervention targeting political self-efficacy and perceived barriers

Despite efforts to promote gender equality in vocations and careers, women continue to be underrepresented in male-dominated occupations, including politics. Women's underrepresentation is unwarranted given they are as effective as leaders as men, and there may even be unique benefits when women lead. For these reasons, this research explores factors that could enhance women's interest in pursuing political office and careers. That is, we examined the efficacy of a female-only political leadership development program, where cohorts of women who aspire to political office are provided knowledge about the political process, access to politicians and government officials, and opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities, in strengthening women's political ambition. We also explored whether and why this program was successful as well as for whom. The results of our multilevel analyses ( n = 73 of matched pre- and post-intervention data) revealed that participation in this program increased women's political ambition. This program also strengthened women's political efficacy and decreased their perceptions of gender-, experience-, and guidance-related barriers. Yet only increased political self-efficacy and decreased perceptions of gender-related barriers explained increases in women's political ambition. Finally, this intervention was particularly successful at breaking down gender-related barriers for women who hold nontraditional gender role attitudes. Our research has implications for organizations and societies on how to spark women's career interests and empower them to join traditionally male-dominated fields.