1st Edition

The Latino Gender Gap in U.S. Politics

By Christina E. Bejarano Copyright 2014
    194 Pages
    by Routledge

    194 Pages
    by Routledge

    Many questions remain unanswered about the observable differences in voting behavior, partisanship, and cultural attitudes among men and women. Latino political participation in the United States is generally lower than the rest of the population, mainly due to their high proportion of youth and foreign born populations that are ineligible to vote. This dynamic is slowing changing, partly as a result of the rapidly growing Latino population in the United States.

    This book delves deeper into the complex gender differences for Latino political behavior. More specifically, it is a political analysis of the diverse U.S. Latino population and the interacting factors that can influence male and female differences in voting and policy attitudes. Christina E. Bejarano carefully unpacks more aspects of the gender category for Latinos, including analyzing the gender differences in Latino political behavior across national origin, foreign born status, and generational status.

    The Latino gender gap can have far-reaching political implications on electoral politics. As the Latino population highlights their growing political sway, the major political parties have and will strategically mobilize and court the Latino electorate, Latinas in particular.

    Introduction: Significance of Latino Gender Gaps. 1. Gender Differences in the Immigrant Experience. 2. Gaps in Political Participation. 3. Gaps in Public Opinion. 4. Gaps in Political Ideology and Partisan Identification. 5. Strategic Mobilization of Latinos. Conclusion: Political Implications of the Latino Gender Gap.

    Biography

    Christina E. Bejarano is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. She received her B.A. from University of North Texas, and her Ph.D. and M.A. from University of Iowa. Her research and teaching interests are in American politics, particularly areas of gender, race/ethnicity, and political behavior. She focuses on Latino political candidates and voters in U.S. electoral politics. She is the author of The Latina Advantage: Gender, Race, and Political Success (Texas, 2013).

    "Understanding the dynamics underlying the voting behavior and participation of Latinos has never been more crucial, and Christina E. Bejarano provides by far the most comprehensive examination to date of gender differences in the political behavior of the Latino electorate. This book is essential reading for political practitioners, academics, and indeed anyone who wants to understand how the preferences and attitudes of Latinas are likely to influence the future of American politics."
    —Susan J. Carroll, Rutgers University

    "This very timely work by Christina E. Bejarano represents a major contribution to the body of knowledge in American politics. Both scholars and students who study Political Behavior, Women in Politics, Latino Politics, Race, Ethnicity and Politics, Public Opinion, and American Political Parties will greatly benefit from this systematic assessment of the differences and similarities in the attitudes and behaviors of Hispanic women and men. Bejarano carefully pulls together qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources to reveal every facet of the growing Latina/o political gender gap. Politicians at every level of government also need to read this book if they want to anticipate the future of American politics."
    —Valerie Martinez-Ebers, University of North Texas