Women in conservatism in the United States

Women in conservatism in the United States have advocated for social, political, economic, and cultural conservative policies going as far back as the anti-suffragism movement of the 1860s. Conservative women's political action frequently takes an anti-feminist stance; and debate around women’s role in society frequently dictates political action taken by conservative women. Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly argued against women’s suffrage, on the basis that it was women's privileged nature to remain in the home and out of the workplace. Gender essentialism, or the presence of innate differences between the sexes, is central to Schlafly's "essential nature" arguments, and this thread of belief can be found throughout women’s history in conservative politics.

The evolution of gender essentialism in conservative politics can be seen in Vice Presidential Nominee and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin self-identifying as a feminist, and adopting a maternal stance to balance her more traditionally masculine positions in political leadership.Today, notable female conservative activists and conservative women’s organizations, such as Concerned Women for America and the Independent Women’s Forum continue advancing conservative policies in the U.S and remain influenced by gender essentialism in their activism.