The focus of this thesis will be to show the exceptionality of Janet B. Scarborough Merritt as a woman involved in elected politics in the 1960s and 1970s. This paper will involve an in depth discussion of women in politics in the South and in Georgia specifically. It will also identify key components of the womens movement and the time period of the 1960s and 1970s. Merritts campaign experience, legislative experience, and connection to the womens movement will be explained in order to show her similarities and differences with other women who served in elected office before and during her time. Janet Merritt was a Democratic member of the Georgia General Assembly from 1964-1972. She was not the first woman to ever serve in the Georgia General Assembly, but she was the first to serve from Sumter County and the only woman in the House of Representatives. While many in the legislature expected her to be like a fraternity sweetheart, Merritt made it clear from day one that her top priority was to be a good legislator who happened to be a woman. This project will involve original research based on her personal collection of papers, as well as, interviews with people who knew her personally and as a legislator.