The Americas and the Caribbean

Why are so many more men involved in politics than women?

The one-year Head Start for Young Women Program, now wrapping up, aimed to tackle that issue by jumpstarting the conversation with local high school and post-secondary students.

About 15 participants here in Ottawa developed workshops aimed at identifying why females say they don't get involved and come up with ways to overcome those reasons.

Eight years ago, artist Trish Kelly made a short video about masturbation - a Rick Mercer-style monologue about sex when you’re single that she filmed for an online TV channel in Vancouver. It was frank and funny, the kind of commentary you’d see today from the 20-somethings Girls.

The gender gap in American salaries is well documented, but it turns out this disparity in pay extends into the political realm as well. Women also donate much less to political campaigns than their male counterparts.

Susan Wismer, challenger of incumbent Gov. Dennis Daugaard, is the first woman to be nominated by a major party for the state's high office.

Wismer says that had nothing to do with her decision to run, but she knows it matters to some of the women who support her. "I'm understanding more and more how much it means to women across the state," said Wismer, a state representative from Britton.

A recent study found black women are underrepresented at all levels of politics — federal, state and local government.

Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics and Higher Heights for America, a national nonprofit that seeks to elevate the voice of black women in politics, conducted the study. The group argues black women face distinct challenges when running for political office and are more like to be discouraged from running than their white counterparts or black men.