Governing codes

"Familiar narratives and simplistic stereotypes frame the representation of women in U.S. politics. Pervasive containment rhetorics - such as the distinction between women as mothers and caregivers and men as rational thinkers - create unique hurdles for any woman seeking public office. While these "governing codes" generally act to constrain female political power, they can also be harnessed as a resource, depending on the particular circumstances (e.g., party affiliation, geographic location, and personal style). One of these governing codes - the metaphor - is an especially powerful tool in politics today, particularly for women. By examining the political careers of four of the most prominent and influential women in contemporary U.S. politics - Democrats Ann Richards and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republicans Christine Todd Whitman and Elizabeth Dole - Governing Codes illustrates how metaphors in public discourse may be both familiar narratives to embrace and boundaries to overturn."--Jacket.