Scholar Spotlight: Kelly Dittmar and Kira Sanbonmatsu

This week's spotlight shines on Kelly Dittmar and Kira Sanbonmatsu, who recently published a new book, A Seat at the Table. Dittmar, Sanbonmatsu, and Susan J. Carroll examine female representation in Congress and political candidates. The authors interviewed dozens of female politicians about their motivations, strategies, and effectiveness as officeholders. It's been a buzzworthy topic for months, with a "pink wave" of women candidates running for office in record numbers. With recent events in the news, the authors wrote an OpEd in CNN this week, which ties their research to sexual assault allegations against powerful male politicians. 

Kelly Dittmar

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University-Camden; Scholar, Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

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Dittmar studies gender and American politics. Her research focuses on gender and American political institutions, including the presidency and Congress, with a particular focus on how gender informs campaigns and the impact of gender diversity among elites in policy and political decisions, priorities, and processes. Her current work focuses on the role of women political professionals on legislative and campaign work. Dittmar is a Scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics, where she manages national research projects and contributes to CAWP’s work to advance women in American politics.

Kira Sanbonmatsu

Professor of Political Science and Senior Scholar, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University

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Sanbonmatsu studies gender and American politics. Her research focuses on women’s election to office, gender stereotypes, party politics, and race/ethnicity. Sanbonmatsu has studied the effects of the parties’ candidate recruitment practices on women’s officeholding. She has examined public attitudes towards women’s officeholding and voter stereotypes about women candidates. Her current work focuses on officeholding by women of color. Sanbonmatsu is a Senior Scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics, where she helps to conduct and disseminate research about women and politics.

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