The overall history in politics has generally been a patriarchal hierarchal system, which basically means that most of history has been dominated by male authority. This is a process that has gone on for decades due to the woman’s “role” has been thought to be childbearing, and more domesticated in general.
Sexism has, and continues to be an issue when it comes to the amount of influence it has on political platforms. Women are more likely found in a more subordinate or in a supporting role to her male counterparts.
Questions have been raised on why this tends to be a continued trend with the rapid changes in societal roles. Some of those questions have been: is it because women are more likely to favor Medicare, Social Security, education reform and so forth? As a whole, women tend to be the nurturer, and these issues are something that realistically needs to be dealt with, but men are more pragmatic when it comes to reform. It becomes more black and white, with not much gray if any.
While the bias will not disappear overnight, education on change is one important aspect that needs to take place. On the flip side, with the United States elevated divorce rate not declining, gives pause to many women in any type of career outside the home. Generally, when a couple, divorces the mother still has the main responsibility to be the central caretaker of the children. This becomes a juggling act to a women in the workforce compared to the man. Most men are able to move forward without a bump in the road, but women have to figure out how to balance both. However, that is not to say that a man is never in those situations, but studies shows that it is generally the woman.
A parting thought: in 2010 there were only 90 women in Congress out of 535 total.