AP Government & Politics

 This refers to the difference between men and women in political attitudes and voting choices.

 Jobs that attract women pay less  Education and healthcare industries attract about 1/3 of American women  Median weekly income $841. to $920.  Same proportion of men work in computer and engineering fields and make a median salary of $1,120. a week.

 In 1999 a woman working in a female dominated sector of the economy made 25.9% less than a man  A man working in the same industry only earned 12.5% less  There are still stereotypes about what is a woman’s job and what is a man’s job  People who work more earn more  But can women work overtime?  Or are there child care issues?

 Journal: What does all this information mean when we talk about a gender gap in politics?

 A gender gap in politics has been evident since the early 1980’s  More women register as Democrats than men.  February 2012  Republicans:  30% women, 31% men  Democrats:  38% women, 25% men

 Women are less likely than men to rate a Republican president as doing a good job  Women are more likely than men to evaluate favorably the job of a Democratic president.  Women have generally been less likely than men to rate recent Republican presidents highly (Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush)

 President George W. Bush’s approval ratings  June 2001  Women 46% favorable, men 57% favorable  June 2002  Women 76% favorable, men 76% favorable  June 2008  Women 25% favorable, men 31% favorable  Why is June 2002’s approval ratings so high?

 President Barack Obama  July 2009 Women 58% favorable, men 59% favorable July 2012 Women 50% favorable, men 39% favorable

 /documents/GGPresVote.pdf /documents/GGPresVote.pdf