My research interests developed after finding in my dissertation that women leaders initiate, but do not escalate, conflict more than men. The theory that most of my research examines is the political double bind women leaders face. Our traditional ideas of leadership tend to assume that good leaders are rational, competitive, aggressive, and decisive. However, these traits most closely align with societal ideas of masculinity and not femininity. This poses a unique challenge to women leaders. Specifically, I argue that women leaders must exhibit both masculine (traditional leader/man) and feminine traits while in office. I posit that they must do this because past research has found that women leaders are punished more frequently for violating gender stereotypes. In order to navigate this double bind, women leaders make certain policy choices to demonstrate certain qualities. They may be more aggressive in the international arena or with what has been dubbed high politics while more nurturing towards their domestic audiences and with low politics. Findings from my research have supported this assertion.
For example, my first publication is a co-authored piece that looks at whether women chief executives experience more terrorism than men chief executives. You can read it in the Journal of Terrorism Research. I also have a collaborative paper that looks at women chief executives and human rights that is forthcoming in the Journal of Human Rights. We find that women chief executives do practice better human rights than men. Both of these publications assert that women must be more nurturing and compassionate (act like a woman) towards their own people. However, my dissertation examined whether women foreign policy leaders are really more peaceful than men. In my first empirical chapter, I find that female chief executives are more likely than men to initiate, but not escalate conflict (measured with MIDs) for the years 1980 to 2000. Using updated data, these findings continue to hold and this paper is readied for review.
My research agenda includes several projects. I have two co-authored papers that are in the revise and resubmit phase. One looks at the post-conflict effects on gender equality and the other on foreign policy extremity of women leaders. Other research examines women leaders and peacekeeping troops, women in parliament and women's well being, gender equality and terrorist ideology, female chief executives and terrorist ideology, and the language of chief executives.
I have presented at numerous conferences including the International Studies Association, American Political Science Association, Journeys in World Politics, and Midwest Political Science Association.
For example, my first publication is a co-authored piece that looks at whether women chief executives experience more terrorism than men chief executives. You can read it in the Journal of Terrorism Research. I also have a collaborative paper that looks at women chief executives and human rights that is forthcoming in the Journal of Human Rights. We find that women chief executives do practice better human rights than men. Both of these publications assert that women must be more nurturing and compassionate (act like a woman) towards their own people. However, my dissertation examined whether women foreign policy leaders are really more peaceful than men. In my first empirical chapter, I find that female chief executives are more likely than men to initiate, but not escalate conflict (measured with MIDs) for the years 1980 to 2000. Using updated data, these findings continue to hold and this paper is readied for review.
My research agenda includes several projects. I have two co-authored papers that are in the revise and resubmit phase. One looks at the post-conflict effects on gender equality and the other on foreign policy extremity of women leaders. Other research examines women leaders and peacekeeping troops, women in parliament and women's well being, gender equality and terrorist ideology, female chief executives and terrorist ideology, and the language of chief executives.
I have presented at numerous conferences including the International Studies Association, American Political Science Association, Journeys in World Politics, and Midwest Political Science Association.
