Who knows how the rookies will affect the Democratic brand. But already they’re doing their best to dismantle one of the most tiresome and inaccurate stereotypes in politics: that women lawmakers are inherently more civil, more collaborative, less power-hungry and less personally ambitious than men.

The idea that women are the key to a kinder and smoother-running Congress has been popular for as long as women have had a meaningful presence there. More than two decades ago, Senator Barbara Mikulski, long known as the dean of Senate women, began organizing monthly, bipartisan, women-only dinners in an effort to create a “zone of civility.” The concept of a nurturing, solutions-oriented sisterhood has endured, often fostered by the women themselves.

Hillary Clinton sold this argument in her 2016 campaign, telling Time, “I just think women in general are better listeners, are more collegial, more open to new ideas and how to make things work in a way that looks for win-win outcomes.”

In the Age of Trump, the idea of women as a civilizing force in some ways holds even fiercer appeal. Last cycle, a historic number of women won office on the promise of combating the toxic culture fueled by the president’s lying and bullying. In January, Representative Susan Wild, a Democratic freshman from Pennsylvania, told Politico: “I believe that women, whether it’s in our DNA or a learned behavior, are natural facilitators. We spend our lifetime in our families solving problems, at least those of us who are mothers. And I think that maternal instinct will hopefully operate to help us work for the common good.”

How uplifting. How stirring.

How absurd.

We can debate the leadership, communication and negotiating styles of women vs. men. But when it comes to the self-selecting gals who elbow their way into high office, the idea that they’re less ragingly ambitious, more conciliatory or less partisan is insulting and contrary to the facts.