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