Govt 166 Final Exam study guide

The exam will consist of two essay questions (you will have options to choose from), and two short answer questions (again, you will have options.) The essays should be clearly organized, use specific examples from readings and lecture, and respond to all parts of the question. They should be several pages long. The short answers should only take a few sentences – similar to some of the questions on your weekly quizzes. You will need to bring a big blue book and your notes and readings. You have a total of 2 hours to complete the exam. The exam is on Monday the 13^th at 5:15.

General advice: Review all of your class notes and the readings – so you are reacquainted enough to know where to find any references or numbers that you might need during the exam. Think about the bigger patterns in the readings. Spend some time thinking about each question and organizing your thoughts BEFORE you start to write.

Essay examples

1. How does “feminist consciousness” arise? Which groups have tended to identify more closely with feminism? What might the “free rider problem” have to do with all of this? Use historical examples.

2. What might women’s political participation and public opinion patterns indicate about American political culture? How might these patterns help predict the near future for women and “women’s issues”? Use specific examples.

3. What is the approximate percentage of women serving in Congress today? What might this number mean for women’s representation? Discuss models of representation, specific issues, societal change, etc. Use specific evidence from the readings.

Short Answer examples

1. Who was head of President Kennedy’s 1961 Commission on the Status of Women? What were its general findings?

2. What was a “rap group” as discussed by Jo Freeman?

3. Which agent of socialization seems most potent in regards to women and politics? Why? Use a specific example.

4. Which demographic categories are more likely to express feminist viewpoints or identify as feminists? Identify at least 3 categories and explain why (according to the readings.)

5. What are the differences in the types or levels of political participation of women versus men? Describe 3 key differences.