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  1. Home
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  3. The Qualifications Gap
  • Cited by 87
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
July 2020
Print publication year:
2020
Online ISBN:
9781108864503
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108864503
Subjects:
Area Studies, American Studies, American Government, Politics and Policy, Politics and International Relations
Information

Book description

What does it take for women to win political office? This book uncovers a gendered qualifications gap, showing that women need to be significantly more qualified than men to win elections. Applying insights from psychology and political science and drawing on experiments, public opinion data, and content analysis, Nichole M. Bauer presents new evidence of how voter biases and informational asymmetries combine to disadvantage female candidates. The book shows that voters conflate masculinity and political leadership, receive less information about the political experiences of female candidates, and hold female candidates to a higher qualifications standard. This higher standard is especially problematic for Republican female candidates. The demand for masculinity in political leaders means these women must “look like men” but also be better than men to win elections.

Awards

Winner, 2021 Robert E. Lane Award, American Political Science Association

Reviews

'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 Source: 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 Source: The Journal of Public and International Affairs

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