If U.S. voters elect Kamala Harris – a Black, Asian American lady – president, it could be historic on a number of ranges. That is now an actual risk because of voters’ positively evolving stereotypes of girls politicians.
Stereotypes have lengthy hindered feminine candidates, casting them as emotional, weak and delicate. However now our political science analysis exhibits that voters within the U.S. more and more see ladies leaders as synonymous with political management – and as simpler than males politicians.
This transformation displays a broader change in what voters count on in political leaders. They’re now extra more likely to see a lady candidate as a greater “match” for public workplace. This would possibly assist pave the best way for Harris to break by the best glass ceiling in U.S. politics.
The basic double bind
Gender stereotypes are the assumptions and expectations individuals have about women and men. They historically current an impediment for girls leaders, together with in politics.
Among the many many obstacles to a lady changing into president within the U.S. are voters’ gender stereotypes. Males are usually assumed to have masculine traits similar to being bold and aggressive, whereas ladies are assumed to own female traits similar to being heat and compassionate. In making use of gender stereotypes to politicians, voters find yourself with very totally different expectations for women and men candidates.
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This presents a basic double bind for girls leaders. In the event that they behave like leaders and act dominantly and assertively, they violate expectations of femininity. But when they behave in a stereotypical means, they don’t seem to be seen as sturdy leaders.
The double bind extends to politics. It was lengthy the case that stereotypes of males politicians, however not ladies politicians, aligned with the management qualities that voters want in political leaders. These traits embrace competence, sturdy management, empathy and integrity. A 2011 examine confirmed that stereotypes of girls politicians lacked readability, that means individuals had no clear expectations. Voters additionally didn’t see ladies politicians in alignment with those self same 4 management qualities that voters search.
However by 2021, distinguished ladies political leaders similar to Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi had reshaped the panorama for girls searching for workplace by shaping and solidifying public expectations.
Extra ladies politicians within the highlight
Extra ladies have assumed political management roles within the U.S. over the previous decade than in earlier many years. The variety of ladies in Congress elevated from 90 to 145 between the 111th Congress, which met from 2009 to 2011, to the 117th Congress, which met from 2021 to 2023.
As well as, high-profile ladies politicians similar to Democrats Pelosi and Clinton, in addition to Liz Cheney, a Republican, have acquired appreciable consideration from each the media and the citizens. Gender stereotypes about ladies politicians advanced from being ambiguous to changing into each effectively outlined and optimistic as voters grew extra accustomed to them. This has created a political panorama for Harris at this time that’s notably totally different from the early 2010s.
We’re political scientists whose analysis examines how gender stereotypes have an effect on ladies’s political underrepresentation. In 2021, we carried out a examine of how voters’ gender stereotypes of politicians had advanced over the earlier decade. These are the three important classes:
1. Stereotypes of girls politicians are more and more optimistic
A decade in the past, individuals didn’t agree on the traits that outlined ladies politicians. Whereas some individuals described them as powerful, others thought they had been weak. Equally, some reported them as rational, whereas others noticed them as unable to separate emotions from concepts. There have been no traits that enormous teams of individuals agreed upon to explain ladies politicians.
However our examine exhibits that voters now maintain clear and optimistic stereotypes of them.
When requested in regards to the traits they affiliate with ladies politicians, respondents listed optimistic traits similar to clever, rational, analytical, bold and ethical. On the similar time, ladies politicians are least related to destructive traits similar to being weak and spineless.
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2. Stereotypes of males politicians have shifted to elevated negativity and mistrust
Male politicians had been beforehand seen as assured, effectively educated, charismatic and pushed. However there’s unhealthy information for males in politics: This notion has shifted. Our examine revealed that stereotypes of male politicians turned far more destructive over the last decade we studied.
At this time, male politicians are extra generally considered as power-hungry, egocentric, manipulative and self-interested. They’re least related to traits similar to being sympathetic or caring about “individuals like me.” This means that voters have change into extra destructive and distrustful towards male politicians.
3. Girls politicians have gained floor on management perceptions, surpassing males politicians
Up to now, stereotypes of girls politicians had been incompatible with management stereotypes. However our examine exhibits that this mismatch has subsided. Actually, between 2011 and 2021, scores for girls politicians elevated on all 4 management traits valued by voters: competence, management, empathy and integrity.
Males politicians, in distinction, have misplaced floor on all 4 management traits. Girls politicians now surpass males politicians in three out of the 4 management traits: competence, empathy and integrity. Expectations of males politicians in regards to the fourth trait, sturdy management, at the moment are equal to these of feminine politicians.
Kamala Harris might profit
Gender stereotypes have lengthy hindered ladies searching for political workplace, however extra ladies in distinguished management positions have fostered optimistic stereotype change.
Granted, extremely seen ladies leaders similar to Pelosi and Clinton excite each admiration and intense dislike. However seeing them and plenty of different examples of their wake has familiarized voters with ladies holding energy in politics. Voters are thus now extra more likely to view ladies candidates like Harris as becoming into management roles such because the presidency.
With rising mistrust in politics, and of male politicians particularly, ladies political leaders – who’re considered as brokers of change – might have a chance to revive belief in politics.
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