Work

Lawyers, Career Goals, and the Gender Gap in Political Ambition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Lawyers play a central role in every political system in the United States. However, although lawyers are overrepresented in political office, women lawyers are underrepresented. We argue that, for men, attending law school and seeking political office aligns with broader career goals and gendered socialization patterns. We use an original survey of undergraduate social science majors to show that agentic career goals, or interest in influence, prestige, and wealth, are associated with attending law school. Data from a panel study of lawyers demonstrates that agentic goals predict political ambition. Women lawyers are less politically ambitious; agentic goals mediate this relationship.

Source: Journal of Law and Courts

DOI: 10.1017/jlc.2025.10009

Authors: Tiffany D. Barnes, Mirya Holman

Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston

Language: English

Topic: Gender Politics and Representation

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550