Gender and Race/Ethnic Participation Political Science 61 / Chicano/Latino Studies 64 November 15, 2007
Dec 18, 2015
Gender and Race/Ethnic Participation
Political Science 61 / Chicano/Latino Studies 64
November 15, 2007
First, Though
Making this all a bit more tangible:minority influence in the 2008 elections
Note that these are anticipation more than analysis
Early Thoughts About Minority Politics in
2008 What’s new?
Barack Obama and Bill Richardson Centrality of immigration to early politicking
Near unity of restrictionist positions articulated by leading Republicans
Public records of Democrats in support of “comprehensive” reform
What could be new (and important)? Newly naturalized citizens mobilized by
immigration debate/2006 marches Shift in primary calendar (if race goes beyond
Iowa and New Hampshire)
Patterns that Reduce the Salience of Minority
Votes Race will come down to a few states (usually
not minority states) Latinos important – Florida, New Mexico, Colorado,
Nevada, and Arizona Blacks important – Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and
Virginia States with largest minority populations not
competitive High costs of race suggest “air war” model
Investment in get-out-the-vote / mobilization will only appear in most competitive states
Candidates will invest in turning out routine voters
Other Opportunities Lots of turn-over in the House and Senate
Will open two congressional seats in New Mexico that could elect Latinos
Parties will invest extensively in state legislative races Preparing for post-2010 Census redistricting More opportunities for new minority
officeholders than at national level Could serve as an incentive to investment in
mobilization
General Patterns We’ve Seen (Not Gender Specific)1. Consistent participation differences
between Whites, Blacks, and Latinos2. Latinos and Asian Americans less likely
to engage in electoral politics Non-U.S. citizenship explains some of the
gap
3. Lower levels of political socialization in Latino and Asian American households
Lower rates of socialization among Latinas Civic skills used in church activity
Women and Naturalization
Women more likely than comparably situated men to naturalize Women recognize more quickly than men that life
to be spent in U.S. Less nostalgic about life in country of origin
Why? Immigration generally expands opportunities for
women from traditional societies Naturalization seen as resource to protect children Women’s job experiences more likely to provide
skills needed in naturalization application process
Skills Developed in Activities, by
Race/Ethnicity & Gender
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Anglo Black Latino
MenWomen
Mean Number Political Acts, By Race/Ethnicity & Gender From
0-4)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Anglos Blacks Latinos
MenWomen
Skills and Political Acts Just Tell Part of the Story
In presidential elections, women register and vote at higher rates than men Part of the “gender gap”
What other characteristics drive political engagement? Efficacy (sense that you can have influence) Interest (degree to which you are aware) Information (confidence that you understand) Group consciousness (connection to others) Representation (desire to have one’s voice
reflected in politics)
Voter Turnout, by Gender, 2004
White Latino Black Asian America
n
Men 64.1% 44.8% 55.8% 42.0%
Women 66.7% 49.4% 63.4% 46.2%
Note: Voter turnout among U.S. citizen adults
Is There a “Women’s” Sphere in Race/Ethnic
Politics? Maybe
Schools/family issues generate a separate sphere that can be politicized
Mothers of East Los Angeles Parent associations are a form of civic
engagement that can be politicized White women may be more engaged in
non-political and charity work Latinas give more time to charity
What Differentiates Participation—Black
Women? Relative to White men
Resources Church Experience of race/ethnic bias
Disadvantages Education Job skills Income
What Differentiates Participation—Latinas?
Resources (relative to White men) Experience of race/ethnic bias
Disadvantages Political socialization Education Skills learned in school Skills learned on job Income Skills learned through organizations Skills developed in churches
Issues that Drive Participation, By
Race/Ethnicity & Gender Latinas
1. Education2. Basic human needs3. Crime/drugs
Black women1. Crime/drugs2. Education3. Basic human needs
White women1. Education2. Abortion3. Taxes
Latino men1. Crime/drugs2. Basic human needs3. Education
Black men1. Crime/drugs2. Basic human needs3. Education
White men1. Taxes2. Education3. Economic issues
Gender and Race, Do They Come into
Conflict?
Black Females
Black Males
White Females
White Males
Black Female v. Black Male
78% 60% 67% 61%
Black Female v. White Male
85% 81% 68% 62%
Black Female v. White Female
82% 84% 63% 53%
Mean Support for Black Female Candidate
Source: Philpot and Walton 2007
In Sum, Gender shapes participation, but
inconsistently across race/ethnic groups Issues have mobilized white women in
electoral politics Black women connected through
organizations, but also through a sense of Black consciousness
Latinas focused on a more targeted agenda Overall, gap between Latinas and Latinos
(or Latinas and white men) the largest
Assignment & Question for Next Time
Assignment – Bring a thesis statement for Essay 2 to class
Question – Please note that the focus of this chapter is wealth (the sum all things an individual or family has that have a monetary value) not incomeWhat accounts for the wealth differences between whites and blacks?