The Impact of Candidate's Sex On Voter Choice

Abstract

fices held by women, the proportion of women compared to men in elective office is small and decreases with the status of the office.1 Among reasons cited for this is the reluctance of the public to vote for a female candidate. The results of public opinion polls, and psychological and sociological research lend support to this proposition by demonstrating the public's perception of women as less capable or less desirable as leaders than men.2 While this does not prove that sex is a factor in voter choice, it does suggest that such discrimination may exist. Several recent studies have examined directly the effects of candidate's sex on voter choice using actual election returns.3 Among these is a study of congressional voting by Darcy and Schramm,4 who found that the average percent of vote received by female candidates when incumbency and party were controlled was not substantially different from that received by their male counterparts. The sex of the candidate did not seem to be a factor in voter choice in congressional contests. The authors conclude that the lack of significant female representation in Congress is largely a function of the absence of female candidates rather than sex discrimination at the polls. Darcy and Schramm's conclusions are valid only if the average voter appeal of male and female candidates is identical except for the one variable, sex. This is difficult to demonstrate considering the different political socialization and recruitment processes experienced by males and females. Life experiences (including education, employment history, military service record, etc.) of the average male and the average female are hardly similar! If the average female candidate is better qualified for office than the average male, then the Darcy and Schramm finding of no difference in the percent of votes received is actually indicative of discrimination against female candidates. Conversely, if the males are actually better candidates, then equality in votes received indicates bias against the male candidates. Only when sex of candidate is the single element of difference in electoral contests can the effects of sex on voter choice be discerned.