Gender Differences in Public Opinion: Values and Political Consequences

Description

In this era in which more women are running for public office—and when there is increased activism among women—understanding gender differences on political issues has become critical. In her cogent study, Mary-Kate Lizotte argues that assessing the gender gap in public support for policies through a values lens provides insight into American politics today. There is ample evidence that men and women differ in their value endorsements—even when taking into account factors such as education, class, race, income, and party identification. In Gender Differences in Public Opinion, Lizotte utilizes nationally representative data, mainly from the American National Election Study, to study these gender gaps, the explanatory power of values, and the political consequences of these differences. She examines the gender differences in several policy areas such as equal rights, gun control, the death penalty, and the environment, as well as social welfare issues. The result is an insightful and revealing study of how men and women vary in their policy positions and political attitudes. Contents List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgments 1. Introducing Gender Differences in Public Opinion 2. Theoretical Approach: Values as an Explanation 3. Gender Gap on the Use of Force 4. Gender Gap on Environmental Attitudes 5. Gender Gap on Equal Rights 6. Gender Gap on Social Welfare Issues 7. Political Consequences of Gender Differences and Conclusions Appendix References Index