The best way to pursue a career in politics was to get a law degree, but only one woman had a law degree in the mid-19th century. Of the few women actually involved in politics, most had married a man in a position of power and eventually succeeded them after their husband's death. Men did not want these women to have a place in government because they thought women were too emotional and incapable of making decisions. Therefore, for a long time, women were not included in the choice of candidates for power. Even when women gained the right to vote, men believed they would vote for changes involving child care and education instead of voting based on class and ethnicity as did men. Many women rarely voted for their own gender because they believed family obligations would restrict their ability to concentrate, and because power was portrayed as masculine, men controlling the government were