2. Gendering the Election

TL;DR

Gender plays a significant role in the 2016 Presidential Campaign, with issues of sexism and bias in media coverage affecting the political landscape for women candidates.

Transcript

So I'm very pleased to be here tonight. My name is Paula Moya. I'm a professor in the English Department and one of the faculty leading this class along with my colleague in political science Gary Segura and my other colleague in sociology Tomas Jimenez. It gives me great pleasure to be here today for this very important panel. As you all know, gen... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Gender stereotypes shape the way people respond to women candidates and influence perceptions of their leadership abilities.
• 👩‍💼 Bias and discrimination still exist in politics, but they are not the main reasons why women are underrepresented in elected offices.
• 🙇‍♀️ Women and men are equally likely to win elections when they run for office and raise similar amounts of campaign funds.
• 🧔‍♀️ Sexist media coverage and focus on appearance can negatively impact women candidates.

Questions & Answers

Q: How have gender stereotypes affected Hillary Clinton's campaign?

Gender stereotypes have influenced the way people respond to Hillary Clinton as a political candidate. The traditional stereotype of what a leader looks like overlaps with male stereotypes, making it harder for women to be seen as having sufficient leadership ability.

Q: Are women and men equally likely to win elections?

Women and men are equally likely to win elections when they run for office, according to studies. They also raise similar amounts of campaign funds. However, women still face a more complex political landscape compared to men.

Q: How does bias and discrimination play a role in politics?

While there are episodes of bias and discrimination in politics, they are not the main reason why women are underrepresented. Studies show that when women run for office, they have equal chances of winning as men. However, women have to overcome stereotypes and sexist media coverage.

Q: How is the gender gap affecting the 2016 Presidential Campaign?

The gender gap refers to the difference in support between women and men for a particular candidate. In the 2016 campaign, women overall are more likely to support Hillary Clinton, while men are more likely to support Donald Trump. The gender gap is expected to play a significant role in determining the election outcome.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Gender issues have been a major topic in the 2016 Presidential Campaign, influencing the rhetoric and tenor of the election season.

• The release of an 11-year-old tape of Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women has brought the toxic aspects of gender, power, and sexuality to the forefront of national conversation.

• The campaign has also highlighted the challenges faced by Hillary Clinton as a woman, both as the target of unwanted sexual advances and as the partner of a man making sexual advances on another woman.

• Legislative efforts to regulate transgender access to bathrooms have also brought attention to the intersection of gender, power, and sexuality.