During the years between 1980 and 1999, in the midst of war and economic crisis, a record number of women were elected to national legislatures in Central American republics. This title explore the reasons for this unprecedented political rise of women, and what effect it has had on the region.

The authors document how elected women have used their policy-making power to begin to change the lives of all Central Americans, women and men alike. In more than seventy-five in-depth, personal interviews, these women legislators reflect on their lives, political careers, and gender identities in their own words, providing deep insights into recent events in this region.

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. What Gets Women Elected
3. Elected Women's Paths to Power
4. Elected Women as Legislators and Representatives
5. Women and Democratization in Central America
6. Public Policy
Appendix A. Methodology
Appendix B. Interview Schedule
Notes
Glossary
References
Index