Christine Kelly, a professor at William Paterson University in New Jersey specializing in women's issues, said she sees the new focus on women in the Republican Party as a "breakthrough for women."
"The Republican Party understands that in order to maintain a coalition they need to admit women in greater numbers," Kelly said.
She added that statistics show the number of young women Republicans is not increasing; rather it is a case of women speaking out more by taking leadership positions within the party and becoming more involved in female recruitment.
Freshman Carolyn Schintzius, a member of the GW College Republicans who attended last Monday's event, said that the Republican Party should be focused on recruiting more women, but for now she thinks the women within the party are being portrayed strongly.
"Since there is such a small number of us, it adds to the fact that we need to advocate our positions more strongly and actively in order to have an impact," she said.
Kelly added that she does not think the stereotype of young people being associated with the Democratic Party is changing, adding that the conservative culture and the Republican era has not really penetrated youth culture.
"The real trends are not abstinence or Christian music," she said. "Because capitalism dominates, what sells is not the conservative virtue model."
Kelly believes that young women tend to be Democrats because of liberal social issues many support, like reproductive choice, one of the "key dividing lines for young women."
Ainsley Stromberg, GW College Republicans' freshman representative, said that with issues like abortion, she thinks the Republican Party is more beneficial to women.
"Although the feminist movement was originally identified with liberals, the idea that a woman can be anything is across both parties," she said.
Senior Annie Zhou, a member of the College Republicans, said her ideological views come from finding herself more aligned with the pro-business aspect of the Republican Party. Kelly corroborates this by speculating that one reason some young women do choose to be Republicans is to better "position themselves in a global economy" and because of "corporate benefits."
"The Republican Party understands that in order to maintain a coalition they need to admit women in greater numbers," Kelly said.
She added that statistics show the number of young women Republicans is not increasing; rather it is a case of women speaking out more by taking leadership positions within the party and becoming more involved in female recruitment.
Freshman Carolyn Schintzius, a member of the GW College Republicans who attended last Monday's event, said that the Republican Party should be focused on recruiting more women, but for now she thinks the women within the party are being portrayed strongly.
"Since there is such a small number of us, it adds to the fact that we need to advocate our positions more strongly and actively in order to have an impact," she said.
Kelly added that she does not think the stereotype of young people being associated with the Democratic Party is changing, adding that the conservative culture and the Republican era has not really penetrated youth culture.
"The real trends are not abstinence or Christian music," she said. "Because capitalism dominates, what sells is not the conservative virtue model."
Kelly believes that young women tend to be Democrats because of liberal social issues many support, like reproductive choice, one of the "key dividing lines for young women."
Ainsley Stromberg, GW College Republicans' freshman representative, said that with issues like abortion, she thinks the Republican Party is more beneficial to women.
"Although the feminist movement was originally identified with liberals, the idea that a woman can be anything is across both parties," she said.
Senior Annie Zhou, a member of the College Republicans, said her ideological views come from finding herself more aligned with the pro-business aspect of the Republican Party. Kelly corroborates this by speculating that one reason some young women do choose to be Republicans is to better "position themselves in a global economy" and because of "corporate benefits."
