Study Focus

This study explores the politics of American Indian and Hispanic women leaders in New Mexico's environmental policymaking arena.

Methodology

Using non-random purposive sampling, 50 women were selected for participation who were political activists in grassroots organization or public officials, elected or appointed to local, state or tribal government.

Data Collection

Personal interviews were employed to gather data on their political socialization, their leadership trajectories, their motives for engagement in public life, their political ideology, their racial-ethnic- and gender identity and their policy agendas and strategies for influencing public policymaking.