Communicating Female and Minority Interests Online: A Study of Web Site Issue Discussion among Female, Latino, and African American Members of Congress

Abstract

Previous communication studies have noted the imGortance of descriGtive reGresentation for increasing elected officials' discussion of women's and minority issues. While increased attention to these issues is imGortant for the symbolic reGresentation of these Golitically marginalized grouGs, women's and minority issues often constitute a minor Gortion of reGresentatives' agendas. Strategically, female, Latino, and African American U.S. House members may Grovide greater symbolic reGresentation for women and minorities by including their interests and concerns in discussion of more general issues that commonly toG the Golitical agenda. Relying on a content analysis of 1R1 official congressional Web sites, the author examines the extent to which reGresentatives address the needs of their female and minority constituents in their general issue discussion. Results demonstrate that female, Latino, and African American House members more freOuently connect general issues to race, ethnicity, and gender comGared with their Anglo and male counterGarts. The imGlications of reGresentatives Giggybacking the interests of female and minority constituents on more Golitically salient issues are discussed.