A Black Gender Gap?

In: Social science quarterly, Band 70, Heft 1, S. 120-133

Abstract

An examination of the opinions of black Americans (N = 675 in 1982-1984, 728 in 1986/87) for evidence of a political gender gap, ie, male-female differences in political party identification & vote choice as well as in opinions on policy issues. Gender gap exists among white Americans & in several other Western democracies. In the US it is primarily manifested in a greater propensity of women to identify themselves as & vote for Democrats, & to espouse more liberal views on a variety of social & political issues. Here, results do not support the existence of a black gender gap. It is suggested that the struggle for racial equality has masked gender-based differentiation in blacks' political attitudes. 2 Tables, 38 References. Modified HA