The underrepresentation of women in US politicsI. Introduction and Context Women are numerically underrepresented in United States politics. Although people may see famous faces of women politicians around them, only 17% of federal government leaders in the United States are women. Women are underrepresented not only at the federal level, but also at the state and local levels. Only six states have female governors, and city hall members are overwhelmingly male in 92 of the 100 largest cities in the continental United States. Since the 1970s the percentage of women in high political offices had been increasing, but in recent election cycles there has been no net increase. The U.S. House of Representatives has reached a plateau in the percentage of female representatives, and the Senate has experienced the first sharp decline in the percentage of women serving since 1979. In terms of progress in female representation in politics, the United States is lagging behind to many nations. As of 2011, 90 nations have a higher percentage of women in office. (Lawless and Fox) Women in the United States have not achieved political equality and have lagged behind many nations in electing women to public office. News outlets have proclaimed 2008 the Year of the Women. Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton were both running high-profile campaigns for Vice President and President, respectively, and Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House. Many believed that the political glass ceiling for women had been at least cracked, perhaps shattered. But in hindsight it was the opposite. Both Palin and Clinton lost their political races and, for some, became objects of national ridicule. These sexists' attacks on both have pushed the media to focus more on their appearance, personality and family life, rather than their male counterparts. In turn, their political beliefs take a backseat to personality pieces, hampering their campaigns. Female candidates are therefore viewed less seriously as politicians when their representation is so one-dimensional. Women do not have the opportunity to engage in political discourse, when they have to spend time talking about their family, their tastes and their clothes. This personal curiosity then stifles dialogue about serious issues. Women perceive the electoral arena as sexist and biased, because female candidates in politics are valued less than their personality, family and appearance. The media coverage these candidates face exacerbates gender bias in American politics. Sexism in the media diminishes women's campaigns by positioning female candidates