But despite recent advances, there’s still a long way to go in closing the gender gap in American politics. There are 81 women currently serving in the United States Congress, 79 women holding executive positions in statewide government and 1,685 women serving as state legislators. While these numbers may seem high—and are vast improvements from years past—women are still the minority, making up only 15.1% of the United States Congress, 25.1% of state executive offices and 20.8% of state legislatures.

HOW YOU CAN SCORE A CAREER IN POLITICS

Take some political science courses.
College is a necessity for virtually any career in politics; however, what you study is up to you. While you can find a politician who has majored in just about anything, from art history to chemistry, most politicians have a background in public administration, law or political science. Political science professors often give their students leads on jobs and internships (often, they are actively involved in their field), so assert yourself and speak up in class.