Women in the United States Senate advancement such as sex discrimination, which still plays a factor in their limited numbers today. The first woman in the U.S. Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton, who served representing Georgia for only one day in 1922. Hattie Caraway became the first woman to win election to the Senate (Arkansas), in 1932. Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman to serve in both the House and Senate; she first served in the House, and began serving in the Senate in 1949. Margaret Chase Smith won her 1960 race for Senate in the nation's first ever race pitting two women (her and
Women in the Australian Senate Margaret Guilfoyle became the first female cabinet minister with a portfolio. In 1996 Margaret Reid was the first woman elected as President of the Senate. Women in the Senate have made significant changes to Australian law which have benefited women. For example, a private member's bill written by Senator Susan Ryan was crucial to the development of the "Sex Discrimination Act 1984", the "Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986", the "Public Service Reform Act 1984" and the "Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987". Names in bold type indicate Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. Names in "italics" indicate