Voting For Women: How The Public Evaluates Women Candidates (Dilemmas in American Politics)

Voting for Women in the United States is an examination of how the public evaluates women candidates for elective office and the conditions under which they choose to vote for them. It provides a history of women and elections in the U.S. and analysis of contemporary data on public reaction to women candidates. As the number of women who seek elective office in the U.S. continues to rise, understanding how and whether the public evaluates them is increasingly important. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Tables and Figures Acknowledgments 1 Voters and Women Candidates Introduction The Potential Role of Candidate Sex in Elections The Important Role of Stereotypes Evidence of the Impact of Candidate Sex Why Might People Vote for Women Candidates? Moving Beyond Hypotheticals: The National Election Study Chapter Plans Notes 2 A Brief History of Women in U.S. Elections A History of Women Candidates in the U.S. Public Attitudes on Women in Politics Changes Among Women Bring Changes for Women Candidates Structural Barriers Conclusion Notes 3 Evaluations of Women Candidates Stereotypes Evaluations of Women Candidates for Congress, 1990-2000 Discussion Notes 4 Who Votes for Women Candidates? Voter Demographics Influences on Congressional Vote Choice Demographic Influences on Voting for Women Candidates A First Look at Support for Women— The General Social Survey Examining Real-World Elections: The National Election Study 1992 and 1994 Notes 5 Why Vote for Women Candidates? The Role of Issues The Role of Issues in Vote Choice Issues and Voting for Women Notes 6 The Role of the Electoral Environment Gendered Information in the Electoral Environment Demographics, Issues, and Context Conclusion Notes 7 Conclusions: The Role of Candidate Sex in American Elections Major Findings Caveats Conclusion Notes Appendix A Appendix B References Index This Book Explains How Voters Evaluate Women Candidates, Who Votes For Them, And Why. Women Comprise An Ever-increasing Percentage Of The Candidate Pool For Elective Office In The United States. Public Opinion Surveys Profess Strong Support For Female Candidates, Yet Many Of These Same Candidates Still Encounter Skepticism (at Best) Or Hostility (at Worst) From The Public. The Role Of Candidate Gender In Elections Is A Complex One. Yet, Our Understanding Of How Voters React To These Women Is Often Based On Election-specific, Anecdotal, Or Hypothetical Evidence. Voting For Women Is One Of The First Book-length Treatments Of Both How The Public Evaluates Female Candidates And Whether And When People Will Support Them At The Polls. It Also Provides A History Of Women And Elections In The U.s. And Analysis Of Contemporary Data On How Voting Environments Can Influence Women's Success.--jacket. Voters And Women Candidates -- A Brief History Of Women In U.s. Elections -- Evaluations Of Women Candidates -- Who Votes For Women Candidates? Voter Demographics -- Why Vote For Women Candidates? The Role Of Issues -- The Role Of The Electoral Environment -- Conclusions: The Role Of Candidate Sex In American Elections. Kathleen A. Dolan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 169-177) And Index. This book explains how voters evaluate women candidates, who votes for them, and why. Women comprise an ever-increasing percentage of the candidate pool for elective office in the United States. Public opinion surveys profess strong support for female candidaes, yet many of these same candidates still encounter skepticism (at best) or hostility (at worst) from the public. The role of candidates gender in elections is a complex one. Yet, our understanding of how voters react to these women is often based on election-specific, anecdotal, or hypothetical evidence. Voting for Women is one of the first book-length treatments of both how the public evaluates female candidates and whether and when people will support them at the polls. It also provides a history of women and elections in the U.S. and analysis of contemporary data on how voting environments can influence women's success. "Women comprise an ever-increasing percentage of the candidate pool for elective office in the United States. Public opinion surveys profess strong support for female candidates, yet many of these same candidates still encounter skepticism (at best) or hostility (at worst) from the public. The role of candidate gender in elections is a complex one. Yet, our understanding of how voters react to these women is often based on election-specific, anecdotal, or hypothetical evidence. Voting for Women is one of the first book-length treatments of both how the public evaluates female candidates and whether and when people will support them at the polls. It also provides a history of women and elections in the U.S. and analysis of contemporary data on how voting environments can influence women's success."--Provided by publisher This is one of the first book-length treatments of how the public evaluates female candidates and whether and when people will support them at the polls. The book provides a history of elections in the U.S. and analysis of contemporary data on how voting environments can influence women's success. In a 1999 survey of the political and social attitudes of Americans, 92 percent of those interviewed said they would vote for a qualified woman candidate nominated by their party for president.