Final answer:
After the 2012 elections, women held approximately 19 percent of the seats in Congress, signifying a gradual ascent from earlier decades but still reflecting the overall underrepresentation of women in political positions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option is B:
After the 2012 elections, women held about 19 percent of the seats in Congress, which marks option b as the correct answer. This percentage indicates a significant growth from the 2 to 3 percent of the mid-20th century, but still highlights the underrepresentation of women in the US legislature compared to its population composition and other developed nations. By the year 2018, this number had seen a steady increase, culminating in women making up 21.2 percent of Congress, as reported in the 115th Congress. Despite the growing numbers of female political representation, women are still underrepresented, specifically when considering that they consist of around 51 percent of the US population.
The growing participation of women in Congress is a testament to the effectiveness of third-wave feminism and the continuous fight for gender equality within political arenas. Though the numbers are improving, reaching just over a quarter of the members in the 117th Congress, these figures remain below the equitable representation compared to the gender makeup of the general population. Nevertheless, the trend indicates that progress is being made, with several states having around 40 percent of their legislative seats held by women. The push for an increased female presence in politics is crucial, given that it brings a broader range of perspectives to policymaking and fosters a more inclusive approach to governance.