Do female Senators foster a more collaborative atmosphere?

(L-R) Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) (back to camera), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) debate during a markup session for the immigration reform legislation now before the committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Judiciary Committee is hoping to wrap up work on the landmark immigration reform bill this week after wading through the 300 amendments that were filed to the bipartisan bill.

Women now make up one-fifth of the Senate, and many of these female leaders believe their gender makes them better suited for reaching political compromise.

There's been plenty of political impasse on the Hill of late, over immigration, the farm bill, etc.

On Tuesday, Majority leader Harry Reid has scheduled votes on seven Obama appointments, and he vows to change the Senate filibuster rules if Republicans block or delay these appointments.

Right now an appointment can require the two-thirds votes needed to prevent a filibuster. Reid would change that so appointments could be approved by a simple majority.

That's raising further tension between Reid and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell; tension that's been building since before the 2012 general election.

Let's imagine for a moment that it wasn't two men, but two female senators grappling over the issues. Might they be more civil? Women now make up one-fifth of the Senate, and many of these female leaders believe their gender makes them better suited for reaching political compromise.

Jill Lawrence joins the show to discuss her latest piece for National Journal called "Do Women Make Better Senators?"