Cindy Simon Rosenthal, associate director of OU's Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, spoke last weekend on C-SPAN in a segment on women in politics.

While appearing on the program, she spoke of the book she edited "Women Transforming Congress." The book is a collection of essays based on research done by leading scholars on Congress at the "Women Transforming Congress" conference two years ago.

"Women Transforming Congress" is to be released sometime in August with its first major release at the American Political Science Association in Boston.

"Women Transforming Congress" examines the increasing influence of women on Congress and the ways in which gender defines and shapes Congress as a political institution," according to a promotional flyer on book.

"Currently, women make up 14 percent of Congress," Rosenthal said, " The U.S. ranks 53rd when it comes to the amount of women we have in Congress."

Rosenthal said she wants the readers to see more clearly the roles of women in Congress, also, she hopes to influence the scholarly community to recognize more fully how Congress operates as a gendered institution.

This book takes stock on what women have done in Congress, Rosenthal said. One goal of the book is to make women's contributions more visible. By doing this other women will be motivated to get more involved, she said.

State Sen. Angela Monson, D-Oklahoma City said that publications featuring women in politics are very important because they tell the readers that women are under-represented in politics especially in Oklahoma.

Hopefully, the number of women running for office, particularly in elected offices will increase because there will be more opportunities for women to be exposed, Sen. Monson said.
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