The President's Cabinet: Gender, Power, and Representation

Borrelli (government, Connecticut College) examines women's selection for, and exclusion from, U.S. cabinet positions, from the 1930s through the first year of George W. Bush's administration. She considers the ways in which the rhetoric used in the selection and confirmation of secretaries-designate has set gendered expectations for the performance of the nominees once in office. Coverage includes the presidential politics of cabinet nominations; profiles of the secretaries-designate by demographic, educational, professional, and political characteristics; media coverage of cabinet nominations; the confirmation process; the ways in which women secretaries-designate have been perceived as representatives; and possible implications for the near future. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)