1. The gendered qualification gap; 2. Fomenting a gender rebellion; 3. No place for women; 4. A gendered information gap; 5. Do voters expect women to be better than men? 6. Different parties, different standards; 7. Gender bias, disrupted; 8. The future is female; Appendices; References.
Women need to be significantly more qualified than men to win political office.
Nichole M. Bauer is Assistant Professor of Political Communication in the Department of Political Science and the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University.
'Meticulously researched, theoretically rich, and methodologically
sound, The Qualifications Gap addresses the social roots of gender
discrimination, offers fascinating examples from both classic and
contemporary political history, and rigorously applies both
observational and experimental data to reveal just how complicated
the path to political success continues to be for women. Bauer
reveals sharp distinctions in the qualifications women must achieve
- and must modestly promote - in order to fulfill their enormous
potential in politics. Bauer ambitiously goes beyond merely
diagnosing the problem by also theorizing and testing proposed
solutions: ultimately, she reveals both stark realities behind
women's persistent underrepresentation in government but also
strategies to help mitigate the political gender gap in
Washington.' Samara Klar, Associate Professor, School of Government
and Public Policy, University of Arizona
'Nichole Bauer expertly analyzes stereotypes and reveals the
persistence - and nuance - of gender bias. Her theory about the
'gendered qualification gap' connects expectations about
masculinity and politics to the ways that voters perceive
information about candidates based on gender. This thoughtful
investigation of voter attitudes, candidate self-presentation, and
media coverage is a must-read for those who care about women's
continued underrepresentation in politics.' Kira Sanbonmatsu,
Professor of Political Science and Senior Scholar at the Center for
American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics,
Rutgers University
'Bauer provides a thoughtful, novel, and innovative exploration of
the gender qualification gap in American politics. She carefully
and convincingly documents how what might seem like an objective
feature of a candidate's background, qualifications, is in fact a
highly gendered process, in which women are not rewarded equally
for their qualifications by the media or voters. The book shines a
much-needed light on this subtle, yet consequential form of bias,
which places women running for office at a distinct disadvantage
relative to men running for office. It is a must read for any
scholar or practitioner interested in understanding the
under-representation of women in American politics.' Jennifer L.
Merolla, Professor of Political Science, University of California,
Riverside
'Her work here offers a potential framework for scholars studying
intersectionality and voter bias in elections and represents an
important contribution to the women and politics literature.'
Carrie Skulley, American Politics
'In a meticulously researched study, Nichole M. Bauer masterfully
takes the reader through a wealth of scholarship that looks at
women as candidates for elective office …' Janet M. Martin, The
Journal of Public and International Affairs
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