Gender Relations and Institutional Conflict Over Mifepristone

Abstract

This research uses mifepristone (RU 486) policymaking under the George Herbert Walker Bush and Clinton administrations to test whether having women in Congress and in influential positions in the executive branch increases the likelihood that policies favorable to women will be adopted. We consider whether women officeholders as a group have different policy priorities than do similarly situated male officeholders, and if so, what other conditions must be met for those differences to be translated into higher levels of support for policies that women support. The dramatic increase in the numbers of women serving in Congress and in senior policy positions in the executive branch over the past twelve years provides us with the first opportunity to test this proposition in both branches of government. We chose mifepristone policymaking because it was on the policy agenda throughout the period and it is an issue of major importance to women.