Identity and Political Decision Making

• In Event: Identity and Politics

Abstract

In elections where information is sparse, research finds that voters use a candidate’s race or gender to stereotype their ideology and issue priorities (McDermott, 1998). Typically, Black and women candidates are viewed as more liberal than White male candidates, and Black candidates are viewed as more concerned with minority rights than White candidates. Voters rely on these stereotypes when deciding how to vote—in essence, assessing whether the candidate’s perceived ideology and priorities matches their own. We extend this research by evaluating how people take cues from a candidate’s race and gender about their views on resource distribution in society. Fundamental to politics is the allotment of power and resources among competing social groups. We examine how attitudes surrounding this figure into voting decisions. Specifically, we examine how voters decide between candidates, based on minimal information, which one will reward them with the resources they desire or “give away” resources to members of other social groups. We set out to answer the following questions: Are Black candidates stereotyped as favoring Black citizens over White? Are women candidates are stereotyped as “fairer” to all racial groups? And how does the race and gender of citizens condition these beliefs?

Authors

• Ismail K. White, Duke University

• Corrine M. McConnaughy, George Washington University

• Tina Tucker, Duke University