Full Version: The Political Gender Gap
Here's an interesting article which indicates that the political gender gap -- men more likely to vote for Republicans, women more likely to vote for Democrats -- is getting bigger, particularly among those with college educations.
Gender Gap Widens
To be debated: Is this real? If so, why? What implications does it have for future elections, and for American society in general?
Gender Gap Widens
To be debated: Is this real? If so, why? What implications does it have for future elections, and for American society in general?
Lots of political issues have a gender bias. In the recent Iraq war, for example, far more men supported the policy than women (in the UK at least).
There seems to be a general but slight lean to the political left among women and to the right among men, and with increasing numbers of women running for office and taking up positions of responsibility in business and wider society, it may be that time is running out for conservatism, be it paleo- or neo-.
Which makes me, as a common-or-garden leftie, very happy indeed.
There seems to be a general but slight lean to the political left among women and to the right among men, and with increasing numbers of women running for office and taking up positions of responsibility in business and wider society, it may be that time is running out for conservatism, be it paleo- or neo-.
Which makes me, as a common-or-garden leftie, very happy indeed.
Reading the article, I'm not sure the voting trendline -- which consists of only two points (1996 and 2000) -- is valid for proving an argument.
However, there are definitely some reasons that women are more drawn to the D's and men are more drawn to the R's.
D's are more concerned with universal health care (which resonates with mothers), "saving" social security (which resonates with seniors and women live years longer than guys now). R's are more concerned with military strength (and guys are more likely to identify with that) and cutting taxes (and there are more men in the workplace and they make more money than women, statistically).
That's a simplification, but you can see how certain issues that each party is identified with can be used to draw a certain gender.
The question about the trendline is going to matter a lot in '04: will foreign security/military issues trump domestic issues in the minds of women so that the gender gap closes for the D's, but not the R's? Probably depends on whether we get attacked on our own soil again before the election.
However, there are definitely some reasons that women are more drawn to the D's and men are more drawn to the R's.
D's are more concerned with universal health care (which resonates with mothers), "saving" social security (which resonates with seniors and women live years longer than guys now). R's are more concerned with military strength (and guys are more likely to identify with that) and cutting taxes (and there are more men in the workplace and they make more money than women, statistically).
That's a simplification, but you can see how certain issues that each party is identified with can be used to draw a certain gender.
The question about the trendline is going to matter a lot in '04: will foreign security/military issues trump domestic issues in the minds of women so that the gender gap closes for the D's, but not the R's? Probably depends on whether we get attacked on our own soil again before the election.
I agree with amf that the percentage of increase doesn't seem very significant, or necessarily indicative of anything. The most substantial reasons I can think of for the increased gap, if it's true, are:
1)The war in Iraq, which has already been addressed by Julian. I remember the giant argument I had at a party prior to that conflict, with five military men. "Iraq isn't a threat". "yes it is", yadda yadda. Their wives all privately confided that they agreed with me, but just sipped their champagne stupidly and silently during the discussion.
2)the abortion issue, which appears slightly more compelling to those who support the option after the PBA ban.
3)The number of broken homes is increasing, which I expect would make the primary caretaker of the children (usually the women) more concerned about policies like healthcare and childcare.
1)The war in Iraq, which has already been addressed by Julian. I remember the giant argument I had at a party prior to that conflict, with five military men. "Iraq isn't a threat". "yes it is", yadda yadda. Their wives all privately confided that they agreed with me, but just sipped their champagne stupidly and silently during the discussion.
2)the abortion issue, which appears slightly more compelling to those who support the option after the PBA ban.
3)The number of broken homes is increasing, which I expect would make the primary caretaker of the children (usually the women) more concerned about policies like healthcare and childcare.
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