Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher
Dec 22, 2015
Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher
Gender and Political Participation
Gender and Turnout
• Female turnout lagged behind male turnout for decades after 1920
• Concept of politics as a “man’s world” did not end immediately
• Husbands did not want their wives voting
• 10-20% gap in turnout through 1950s
Gender and Turnout: Why Change?
• 1920 was distant past• Women’s movement, feminism,
working women, evolution or women’s role in American
• Women and higher education (56% of college students)
Other Forms of Political
Participation
Voted in election * Gender Crosstabulation
393 421 814
74.6% 78.0% 76.3%
134 119 253
25.4% 22.0% 23.7%
527 540 1067
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Voted
Did not vote
Voted inelection
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Campaign contributions * Gender Crosstabulation
80 86 166
15.2% 16.0% 15.6%
447 453 900
84.8% 84.0% 84.4%
527 539 1066
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Yes
No
Campaign contributions
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Frequency of political discussion * Gender Crosstabulation
235 239 474
44.8% 44.6% 44.7%
289 297 586
55.2% 55.4% 55.3%
524 536 1060
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
A Lot
Not Much
Frequency of politicaldiscussion
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Campaign interest * Gender Crosstabulation
284 257 541
53.9% 47.7% 50.8%
192 232 424
36.4% 43.0% 39.8%
51 50 101
9.7% 9.3% 9.5%
527 539 1066
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Count
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Not much interested
Campaigninterest
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Frequency of following politics * Gender Crosstabulation
159 114 273
30.2% 21.2% 25.7%
209 228 437
39.7% 42.5% 41.1%
158 195 353
30.0% 36.3% 33.2%
526 537 1063
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Count
Most of the time
Some of the time
Very little
Frequencyof followingpolitics
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Attempts to influence others * Gender Crosstabulation
89 63 152
17.0% 11.7% 14.3%
156 162 318
29.8% 30.0% 29.9%
279 315 594
53.2% 58.3% 55.8%
524 540 1064
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Count
Frequently
Occasionally
Never
Attempts toinfluenceothers
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Attention paid to campaign news * Gender Crosstabulation
350 323 673
66.5% 59.9% 63.2%
176 216 392
33.5% 40.1% 36.8%
526 539 1065
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
A Lot
Not Much
Attention paid tocampaign news
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Viewed campaign information on Web * Gender Crosstabulation
252 227 479
47.9% 42.0% 44.9%
274 313 587
52.1% 58.0% 55.1%
526 540 1066
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Yes
No
Viewed campaigninformation on Web
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Voted in election * Gender Crosstabulation
393 421 814
74.6% 78.0% 76.3%
134 119 253
25.4% 22.0% 23.7%
527 540 1067
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Voted
Did not vote
Voted inelection
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Listen to talk radio * Gender Crosstabulation
261 201 462
49.5% 37.3% 43.3%
266 338 604
50.5% 62.7% 56.7%
527 539 1066
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Count
Count
Count
Yes
No
Listen to talkradio
Total
Male Female
Gender
Total
Conclusion
• Women have caught up to and surpassed men in turnout
• Men have very slight advantage in certain “other” forms of participation
• Unlikely to change (except move toward total “participation equality”)
What about Running for Office?
Female Candidates
• Win just as frequently as male candidates• Raise as much money as male candidates• Generally accepted by American electorate
• “When women run, women win” (they have the same advantages/disadvantages as male candidates)
--- Kathleen Dolan Voting for Women, 2008
Female Candidates
• Women are less likely than mento consider running for office
• Women are less likely than men to run for elective office
• Women are less likely than men to be interested in running for office
• --- Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, 2005
Female Candidates: Why Fewer?
• Women are less likely to be socialized to think about politics as a vocation
• Women bear greater responsibility for family and children
• Women are less likely to be encouraged to think about running for office by colleagues, friends, etc.
Female Candidates: Why Fewer?
• Both women and men perceive electoral bias against women
• Women are less likely to be recruited to run by parties and interest groups
• Women possess several psychological attitudes that lead them away from running for office (less “political ambition”)
• --- Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, 2005