Symbolic image of a woman in a county clerk's office, representing gender and power dynamics in local government.

Cracking the Glass Ceiling... in the County Clerk's Office? The Surprising Story of Women in Local Government

Soraya Malik in Politics & Policy June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Why are women overrepresented in some local elected offices but still face barriers elsewhere? Dive into the fascinating world of gender, politics, and the unexpected rise of women county clerks."

For decades, the narrative in American politics has centered on the underrepresentation of women. From Congress to state legislatures, the numbers often paint a picture of persistent gender imbalance. Yet, beneath the surface of national headlines, a different story unfolds in an unexpected corner of local government: the county clerk's office.

Across the United States, women hold a disproportionately high number of county clerk positions. In some states, they occupy over 80% of these offices. This begs the question: Why this particular role? Is it a sign of progress, or does it reveal something more complex about the intersection of gender, power, and the perceived attractiveness of certain political roles?

A 2018 study published in the State and Local Government Review delves into this phenomenon, examining the factors that contribute to women's overrepresentation as county clerks. The research explores whether the position's perceived lack of power and prestige, coupled with traditional gender norms, plays a significant role.

The County Clerk: A "Female" Office?

Symbolic image of a woman in a county clerk's office, representing gender and power dynamics in local government.

The study, led by Ethan M. Bernick and Brianne Heidbreder, uses data from the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Census Bureau to analyze the demographics, social factors, and political landscapes of counties across twelve states. Their models estimate the correlation between a county clerk's sex and various county-level factors. The central argument? Women are better represented in the office of county clerk, compared to other elective offices because the position is not seen as attractive to men, and its responsibilities are fit within the construct of traditional gender norms.

Historically, masculine traits such as competitiveness, decisiveness, and autonomy have been viewed as appropriate and desirable for the public world. Because of this gender socialization, women are deterred from pursuing elective office or affect voter bias against them. Sex-role socialization can inhibit women's representation because it may deter women from pursuing elective office (Fox and Lawless 2003) or affect voter bias against women (Dolan 2018).

Limited Power & Authority: The role often involves administrative tasks, record-keeping, and process-oriented duties rather than high-level decision-making.
Cultural Expectations: The tasks associated with the county clerk's office may align more closely with traditional perceptions of women's roles in society.
Less Competition: Men may be less likely to seek these positions, creating more opportunities for women.

Researchers suggest that voters are more likely to rely on gender stereotypes in low-salience elections, including municipal clerk elections. Because women are perceived as more capable of completing secretarial tasks and constituency service, women candidates perform better in clerkship elections than in mayoral and city council elections.

The Bigger Picture: Progress or Paradox?

The overrepresentation of women as county clerks presents a complex picture. While it demonstrates that women can thrive in certain political roles, it also raises questions about the nature of power and the persistence of gender stereotypes. Is this a genuine step towards equality, or does it reinforce traditional gender roles by steering women into positions deemed less desirable by men? Future research, including in-depth interviews and surveys, can provide a deeper understanding of the motivations and experiences of both men and women in these roles, shedding light on the path towards true gender equity in politics.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/0160323x18813641, Alternate LINK

Title: Disproportionately Overrepresented: Women In Local Elected Offices

Subject: Political Science and International Relations

Journal: State and Local Government Review

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Ethan M. Bernick, Brianne Heidbreder

Published: 2018-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What factors contribute to women being overrepresented in county clerk positions compared to other elected offices?

The county clerk position often involves administrative tasks, record-keeping, and process-oriented duties. The role typically does not include high-level decision-making. Cultural expectations also play a role, as the tasks associated with the county clerk's office may align more closely with traditional perceptions of women's roles in society. The position may experience less competition, as men may be less likely to seek these positions, creating more opportunities for women. The 2018 study highlights these factors as contributing to the overrepresentation of women in this role.

How does the overrepresentation of women as county clerks contrast with their underrepresentation in higher-profile political positions like Congress or state legislatures?

The underrepresentation of women in Congress and state legislatures contrasts with the overrepresentation of women as county clerks. This disparity raises questions about gender, power, and the perceived attractiveness of certain political roles. The visibility of women in roles like county clerk does not necessarily translate to broader political representation. There needs to be more understanding about the factors influencing these trends and their implications for gender equity in politics.

Can you elaborate on the 2018 study that investigated the phenomenon of women in county clerk positions?

The study referenced is a 2018 publication in the State and Local Government Review. Ethan M. Bernick and Brianne Heidbreder are the authors. They used data from the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Census Bureau to analyze demographics, social factors, and political landscapes across twelve states. Their research explores the factors contributing to women's overrepresentation as county clerks.

Is the prevalence of women in roles like county clerk a sign of genuine progress in gender equality, or does it indicate a more complex dynamic?

The overrepresentation of women as county clerks suggests a paradox. On the one hand, it demonstrates that women can thrive in certain political roles. On the other hand, it raises questions about whether this trend reinforces traditional gender roles by steering women into positions seen as less desirable by men. It is important to consider whether this reflects genuine progress toward equality or a subtle form of gender-based role allocation. The impact of gender stereotypes needs to be examined further.

In what ways do traditional gender stereotypes and perceptions influence women's representation in different types of elected offices?

Masculine traits, such as competitiveness, decisiveness, and autonomy, have historically been viewed as desirable for the public world. This gender socialization can deter women from pursuing elective office or affect voter bias against them. Voter's reliance on gender stereotypes in low-salience elections, women perform better in clerkship elections than in mayoral and city council elections. These stereotypes are more pronounced in positions like county clerk, which are often perceived as less powerful or prestigious.