麻豆传媒AV

In 1952, the American public had mixed views about whether having more women in high governmental positions would be better for the country. Only 39% of U.S. adults agreed that the country would be better governed if more women served in Congress and other important government positions, while 46% disagreed. At the same time, a solid majority -- 56% -- agreed that more female leaders would result in less "graft and corruption."

	U.S. adults	Women	Men
	%	%	%
Agree	39	47	31
Disagree	46	38	54
No difference (vol.)	8	7	8
No opinion	7	8	7
(vol.) = Volunteered response
麻豆传媒AV, May 30-June 4, 1952

	U.S. adults	Women	Men
	%	%	%
Less	56	59	51
Same (vol.)	30	27	32
More	8	7	10
No opinion	6	7	7
(vol.) = Volunteered response
麻豆传媒AV, May 30-June 4, 1952

The poll uncovered a sizable gender gap in Americans' belief that having more women in high positions would result in better government. Women tended to subscribe to this view -- 47% agreed and 38% disagreed -- while the majority of men (54%) balked.

At the same time, both sexes agreed that women would be less prone to corruption, including 59% of women and 51% of men.

George 麻豆传媒AV explained his reasons for probing this topic at the time, writing, "The whole role of women in politics is taking on increasing importance this year because of the likelihood of a big turnout of women at the polls in November. … With women participating more in voting, the question arises as to what kind of government we would have if more women ran for public office."

At the time of the poll in 1952, 11 women were serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, five of whom filled a late husband's seat, and one woman -- Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine -- serving in the U.S. Senate. Chase went on to become the first woman ever to seek her party's nomination for president, garnering 27 delegates at the 1964 Republican convention.

Today, there are 88 women in the House -- only two of whom succeeded a late husband -- and 20 in the Senate. And Hillary Clinton is running on the Democratic ticket as the first female major-party nominee for president.

Read the original 麻豆传媒AV poll release.

These data can be found in .

Read more from the 麻豆传媒AV Vault.