The Role of Gender in Descriptive Representation

Bibliographic Data

ID6339643
AuthorsCindy Simon Rosenthal (University of Oklahoma, corresponding author)
Year1995
Volume48
Issue3
Pages599-611
Publication date1995-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Research Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1065-9129 • E-ISSN: 1938-274X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/106591299504800307
OpenAlexW2029716233
LanguageEN
Citations received84
References cited14

This article broadens consideration of the gender gap from voting differ- ences to the larger question of affective preferences for descriptive represen- tation (Pitkin 1967).The results, based on a 1993 survey of 416 individuals, suggest that women are far more likely than men to be "gender conscious" in their evaluation of a candidate or a preferred representative.Differences among the 224 women in the sample can be traced to at least four sources.Group interests and feminist attitudes are positive sources of women's preferences for descriptive representation.Conversely, conservative political views deter some women from supporting women in politics.The results also provide partial support for Carroll's (1987) psychological and economic autonomy thesis.Finally, the results suggest that in part the "gender gap" may be a generational gap most prevalent among "baby boomers."The 1992 election demonstrated that gender matters.Cook, Thomas, and Wilcox (1994) provide ample evidence from the campaign trails that candi- dates tailored their appeals and voters and activists responded on the basis of gender In turnout, partisanship and presidential vote choice, a &dquogender gap&dquo between women and men continued to be evident (Frankovic 1982; Mueller 1987; Bendyna and Lake 1994).Gender differences, though modest and oper- ating at the margins in some races, affected the fates of candidates in various races.What is not clear from analyses of the gender gap is whether something other than group interests, party, or,ideology forms a basis for voters' calculus.For example, in Cook's (1994) analysis of 1992 U.S. Senate races involving match-ups between a male and a female candidate, women were more likely to vote for the female candidate and to respond in exit polls that it was very

Autonomy · Demographic economics · Descriptive research · Descriptive statistics · Economics · Gender gap · Political science · Politics · Representation (politics · Social science · Sociology · Statistics · Voting · Educational Assessment and Pedagogy · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender Studies · Law · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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