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An examination of primary entry and outcome patterns in 1984 enlarges our understanding of the inability of women to increase their numbers in the U.S. House of Representatives. It shows the lack of a significant presence of female candidates, differences in entry patterns between male and female challengers working to women's disadvantage in obtaining a legislative seat, a mixed pattern regarding outcomes but equity in voter reactions for those who put themselves forward. Incumbency advantage plus absence rather than discrimination account for the small number of female members of Congress.
Barbara Burrell (Fri,) studied this question.