Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants
Title
Examining Gender and Authoritarian Values During the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
Department
Political Science
College
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Date Range
2011-2012
Abstract
We examine the foundations of gender based differences in public opinion toward various policy issues arising in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically gay and lesbian rights, and war. Based on a series of statistical models estimated on nationally representative survey data collected in the fall and winter of the election year, we test the differential influence of authoritarian predispositions across genders. We examine how the opinions of men and women differ under the condition of perceived threat, which triggers the influence of authoritarianism. The results help explain a source of the "gender gap", why in the aggregate opinions of men and women diverge.
Conference Name
118th Annual Michigan Academy Conference
Conference Location
Alma, Michigan
ScholarWorks Citation
Kilburn, Howard and McCleod, Melissa, "Examining Gender and Authoritarian Values During the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election" (2011). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 383.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/383
