Sex, race, gender, and the presidential vote

Susan B Hansen,Shang Ha

doi:10.1080/23311886.2016.1172936

Susan B Hansen, Shang Ha

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2016.1172936

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Abstract

AbstractRacial resentment has been shown to have a significant impact on voting by whites in recent presidential elections, and a much larger impact than the traditional gender-gap measure based on the male-female dichotomy. This analysis will use data from the American National Election Studies [ANES] to compare broader indicators of race and gender applicable to the Democratic and Republican parties as well as to respondents’ opinions of appropriate roles for women. Since the 1980s the parties have diverged considerably on abortion and women’s issues, and voters now view the Democrats as more supportive than Republicans of equality for women and reproductive rights. Perceptions of party differences on women’s issues strongly influenced vote choice, 1988–2008, and in 2008 had greater impact on whites’ votes than opinions on aid to blacks, abortion, gay marriage, or the economy. Although racial resentment was a strong predictor of the white vote in 2012 as in previous years, presidential voting was also s...

Highlights

Few whites respond to overtly racist appeals or support demeaning stereotypes of African-Americans (Mendelberg, 2008)
Voters are aware of considerable differences between Democratic and Republican parties in support for women’s rights, and perceptions of candidate positions on women have been a major predictor of the vote for President
In order to test the KDR claim that “race trumps gender,” this paper will use American National Election Studies [ANES] data to analyze the electoral impact of different indicators of both race and gender

Summary

Introduction

Few whites respond to overtly racist appeals or support demeaning stereotypes of African-Americans (Mendelberg, 2008). Voters are aware of considerable differences between Democratic and Republican parties in support for women’s rights, and perceptions of candidate positions on women have been a major predictor of the vote for President.

Results

Conclusion