Legislators & Politicns

Historically, men have dominated Iowa's political climate. Men drafted Iowa's constitutions, created and instituted Iowa's laws, and for years had sole access to Iowa's ballot boxes. But in 1928, a radical change occurred in Iowa politics: voters in Jackson County elected Carolyn Pendray, the first woman ever to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. In the years following Pendray's election, other Iowa women have chosen to challenge the status quo and pursue a political career. Despite the numerous obstacles they encountered in a male-dominated system, these women politicians have shaped and defined state law through their hard work and dedication. Legislators and Politicians collects the stories of these dynamic, resourceful women. Told through a combination of interviews, newspaper articles, and personal writings, these accounts convey the varied experiences of Iowa's women politicians: their courage, humor, frustrations, and determination.