Women, Politics & Political Science: Expanding the Discipline
Broadening the Discipline of Political Science
The study of political science concerns itself with broad ideas focused on peace and conflict, theoretical goals of systems and praxis, political stability, individuals or groups that are essential for analysis and critical thinking about the state and structures within, the concept of power and authority and governance. Subfields focus on political behavior, decision making to include political choice, government structures, regional politics, international relations, and comparative politics. The Dr. Mack Henry Jones Department of Political Science has broadened the lane of political science to address race and the American Political system, power and oppression, black political thought and its salient thinkers, the significance of unification and Pan-Africanism, the struggle for liberation, the role of methodology and the study of the political well-being of black persons and persons of African descent. Fifty years of this coverage of thought have worked towards elucidating the necessity of full and complete notions of shared benefits for the presence of black people globally. Fifty years have also highlighted contradictions, conflicts, and omissions that place constraints necessary for the full and complete realization of the science of the political in both general studies and studies relevant to black people.
Our Women & Politics Subfield
With this backdrop, our subfield of Women and Politics raises important questions for Political Scientists, like democracy for who and whom? Power, influence, stability, and equality for who and whom? How can we ensure gender equality in post-conflict countries? Similar places and spaces of women allow for thematic examination in the history of struggle, the significance of their use of resistance against oppositional restraints and hostilities, their role post-conflict, and their place in the blueprint for the development of “newer” systems of government that seek to avoid and prevent marginalization and exclusion of women and girls. If done well, the subfield of Women and Politics expand understanding of the impact of rural and urban situations on political will and allocation of resources. If done correctly, the subfield of Women and Politics can reimagine women and under-participation in political systems and processes. Also, full attention to women and politics can assist with analyzing influences on political shifts, such as whether women and the politics of change come about from their persistence of concerns impacted by political will or political negligence, such as environment, healthcare, justice, violence. Or does change occur from a top down and legalistic approach shaped and defined by constitutional development or modifications?
Women & Politics: The Next 50 Years!
So, to build the next 50 years of discourse and scholarship in the Dr. Mack Henry Jones Department of Political science, a development of the Women and Politics subfield is required for full analysis and insight into the course of political well-being of all people, especially women. Development of this subfield recognizes the historic alliance between the Department of Africana Women’s Studies and courses developed within our own Department. This development also honors our department’s honored faculty such as Drs. Shelby Lewis, Grechen McGlaughlin (noted posthumously) and Abi Awomolo. This subfield must also recognize the voices of our brilliant students who with urgency, seek the intersection of scholarship and praxis in critical topics of women and social movements of educational, social and criminal justice. Other voices contribute to the necessity of scholarship on displacement and refugee issues, incorporating policy and political will impact the futures (political participation versus exclusion) of this populace. To encourage this, the sub-field of Women and Politics includes, among others, the following courses:
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Feminist Theory
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Third World Women & Development
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Seminar in Women and Politics
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Post-Conflict Gender Equality
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Feminist Methodology
Dee Dawkins-Haigler, Georgia State Representative, 2008-2017
Selected Women & Politics
Dissertation and Thesis Research, 1969-2025
1974. King, Nancy Wiggins. "Women in Congress: An Analysis of their effectiveness."
1979. Sullivan, Brenda Ann. "A case study of in-group system transformation politics: The African-American Feminist."
1984. Locke, Mamie E. "The politics of powerlessness: The impact of sex, race, and class on the political and economic development of Black women in Hinds county and Sunflower county, Mississippi."
1987. Morgan, Mary Nell. "The souls of women folks in the political thought of W.E.B. Dubois."
1988. Smith, Lawrencine. "Towards developing a feminist political economy: A comparative analysis of socialist feminist theory."
1988. Wyatt, Gina E. "The portrayal of Black men and Black women in selected works of selected Black authors."
1995. Myers, Johnnie Dumas. "African American women judges on courts of General and Appellate jurisdictions: A descriptive analysis.."
1995. Udezulu, Ifeyinwa E. "The state of capitalist patriarchy: Women and politics in developing countries."
1996. Harmon-Martin, Shiela F. "Women in the criminal justice system: A mirror of society."
1997. Jenkins-Mullen, Dolly. "The impact of the Reagan and Bush administrations on the medicaid and women, infants and children's program as each delivered health care to indigent North Carolinians."
1997. Webb, Chequita Y. "The political empowerment of black women in the rural South: A case study of three Black women mayors in rural Georgia."
1998. Awomolo, Abiodun A. "The Political economy of market women in Western Nigeria."
1999. Tucker, Katherine K. "The impact of socialization on the political participation of women in the American political system."
2001. Brown, Dorian L. "Survivors: An Analysis of relocated Somali women in Georgia."
2002. Haynes-Belizaire, Aisha. "Black women advocates in congress: A case study of the agenda setting and legislative sponsorship of Maxine Waters and Cynthia McKinney during the 105th congressional session.
2005. Garrett, Crystal. "The role of African-American women in the foreign policy arena: An analysis of the executive and legislative branches."
2006. Lima-Neves, Terza Alice. "The role of women in development: A case study of the Republic of Cape-Verde."
2009. White, Celeste Michelle. "Electoral participation among black women in Georgia: A comparative analysis between Atlanta and Keysville."
2010. Briggins, Donna L. "The impact of a leadership training program for refugee women."
2012. Haynes-Belizaire Aisha L. "Legislating social justice policy: A case study of sponsored legislation by black congresswomen during the 108th congressional session."
2023. Harris, Alexis. "First Black Woman in the United States Senate: A Constructivist Analysis of Political Socialization."
