Editing Politics of the United States (section)

===== Social pressures and influences =====
Social pressures are another influence on women who run for office, often coinciding with sexism and discrimination. Some scholars have argued that views of discrimination have prompted a decrease in the supply of women willing to run for office, though this has been partially countered by those who argue that women are actually just more "strategic" when trying to identify an election with favorable conditions.<ref name=":6" /> Other factors, like the overrepresentation of men, have been described as influencing perceptions of men as somehow inherently more effective as politicians or leaders, which some scholars argue could pressure women to stay out of elections.<ref name=":6" /> Others contend that the overrepresentation of men can actually result in "political momentum" for women, such as during the [[Year of the Woman]].<ref name=":6" /> Within some racial and ethnic groups, social influences can also shape political engagement. Among Latinos, Latinas are more likely to partake in non-electoral activities, like community organizing, when compared to men.<ref name=":3" /> Despite differences in political activity and social pressures, elected women from both political parties have voiced their support for electing more women to Congress to increase the acceptance of their voices and experiences.<ref name=":6" /> Furthermore, studies have found that increasing the descriptive representation of women can provide positive social influences for democracy as a whole, such as improved perceptions of an individual's political efficacy and government's responsiveness to the needs of people.<ref name=":1" /> When women can vote for a woman candidate of the same party, studies have also found that these influences can be magnified.<ref name=":1" />