An Analysis of Gendered Names and Appearance on Minority Turnout

• In Event: Gender, Race, and Sexuality in Elections

Abstract

Much research on descriptive representation focuses on voters and candidates who share in gender, race, or ethnicity. Some research extends to illustrate cross-racial effects between voter and candidates of different racial groups. I expound on this concept to show effects between women candidates and racial and ethnic minority voters. I theorize that racial and ethnic minorities will turnout for women due to shared oppression at the hands of politics within the American landscape. I expect this effect to increase after the overturning of Roe versus Wade as minorities can emphasize with women who feel excluded and unprotected by their government. This political psychology approach provides quantitative and theoretical reason to believe that women candidates are desirable to racial and ethnic minorities. My analysis illustrates that ethnic and racial minorities, as well as women, are more likely to turnout with a woman candidate in the race. I utilize Artifical Intelligence to determine the level of physical femininity of candidates.

Author

• Aubree J Hardesty, University of Missouri, Columbia