Deondra Rose

Makes the case that women's movement toward first class citizenship has been shaped not only by important societal changes, but also by the actions of lawmakers who used a combination of redistributive and regulatory higher education policies to enhance women's incorporation into their roles as American citizens.

Examines how federal higher education policy, as a component of the American welfare state, has influenced the gender dynamics of citizenship since the mid-twentieth century. Finds that by providing crucial resources and experiences, higher education policies have contributed to women's promotion to first-class citizenship, have revolutionized the way in which the state interacts with women, and have promoted gender equality in terms of social and political citizenship.

Examines lawmakers’ unprecedented use of regulatory policy to expand women’s access to higher education in 1972. Finds that the feedback effects of contemporaneous anti-discrimination policies shaped this effective approach to combating gender discrimination; underscores the centrality of politics to dramatic policy change; and demonstrates the value of federal regulation for promoting gender equality in American institutions.

Examines the rate at which black women have used landmark federal higher education policies – particularly Pell Grants and federal student loans – and the impact that these programs have had on their college completion rates. Argues that federal higher education programs represent a particularly valuable source of support for black women, especially younger black women. Analysis demonstrates that the use of Pell Grants and federal student loans promotes greater educational attainment for black women, and that, of all female beneficiaries of federal student aid programs, black women are particularly likely to perceive these policies as having significantly expanded their educational opportunity.

Argues that the best explanation for the low representation of women in Congress – far below the average of other advanced democracies – may be pervasive militarization. During times of war, the growth of women’s election stagnates, as female candidates are perceived as less fit for office. With fewer women in Congress, the challenge to war policy and competing demands for domestic social policy are weaker, creating a vicious cycle.

Examines the politics of the Higher Education Act’s original enactment and subsequent reauthorizations in order to explain why it has been subject to fragmented sustainability. Findings highlight the dynamic interaction between political change, policy design, and policy feedback effects.