Women in the United States - US Department of State

Women in the United States


Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, reviews court documents. (© AP Images)

Women Setting New Records as State Supreme Court Judges

Although it has taken a long time in U.S. history, today women commonly serve on the highest courts in the country. Many of these women overcame great obstacles to achieve their positions. The composition of the American judicial system is "very different than when I joined the court and there were all white men," said Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. "That is not the America I know today." (complete text)

Programs Prepare Women, Minorities for U.S. Political Careers

If there is such a thing as a “gender gap” in the United States, it is in the area of confidence -- especially confidence to run for political office. “Women tend to think they need to be prepared,” says Jean Sinzdak project manager for Rutgers University’s Program for Women Public Officials. To encourage more women to take the first steps toward a career in politics, the Center for American Women and Politics, a national organization based at Rutgers, New Jersey’s state university, developed a training program called Ready to Run. USINFO looks at that program and others that are intended to prepare women for political campaigns. (complete text)

Saudi-Born Woman Prepares Third Run for California Assembly

Ferial Masry became involved in politics when her son was deployed to Iraq in the beginning of the war. In 2004, she became more involved in the Democratic Party, and one month before that year’s primary election, the party recruited her to run. Today, as Masry, who believes she is the first Saudi-born woman to run for office, prepares for her third attempt to win a California Assembly seat, she tells USINFO, "I can run and run because I feel like you teach people that you have to really fight for democracy ... we have to fight for the process." (complete text)

U.S. Women Break New Ground as Sheriffs

Of the 3,084 sheriffs now serving in the United States, only 40 are women, according to Fred Wilson, director of operations for the National Sheriffs’ Association. USINFO talks with three women sheriffs about their backgrounds, the work they do and the keys to their success. (complete text)

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