Abstract
Political issues and political parties in the United States have been connected to different gender labels, which further influences voters’ electoral choices. This study utilized an online survey and experiment (N = 1238) with hypothetical congressional candidates to examine the influence of gender stereotypes in ten political issues and the two main political parties on individuals’ electoral choices when only limited information is offered. Results found gender stereotypes attached to political parties and topics worked as cognitive shortcuts, affecting individuals’ perception of male and female capability of handling different issues. Participants reported a higher likelihood of voting for female candidates when they showed concern for feminine topics and affiliation with the Democratic party; they also preferred male candidates when it comes to masculine issues and the Republican party. Male and female participants further reported different voting preferences, and females reported baseline preferences for female candidates.
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