392— Hegemonic Masculinity and the Partisan Gender Gap: Implications for American Democracy

There is a growing body of evidence that shows a correlation between gender inequality and economic inequality. Often these highly unequal societies, such as the US, have stringent gender norms that disparately affect how men and women think and behave, including the kinds of political opinions they express. My research will focus on the implications of divergent gender norms for American democracy, particularly for proposals aimed at redressing economic inequality. Because this normative behavior has gendered the perceptions of political parties and policies—such as men cognitively linking redistributive policies to a feminine ethos—these gendered ideas may undermine policies that have potential to close the economic gap.