Voter Perceptions of Motherhood as Candidate Trait

• In Event: Emerging Scholars Lightning Round: Graduate Student Research: Contemporary Issues in US Politics: Identities, Technology, and Economic Policy

Abstract

Gender has long been a topic explored in political science research, from questions of representation and gender-salient issues, to the use of gendered stereotypes in media coverage of female candidates, to the gendered dynamics of candidate recruitment. Despite this, motherhood remains an understudied aspect of candidate presentation and voters' perceptions of candidates, even though motherhood is "the most normative and valued role that women adopt" (Greenlee 2014). Using original survey data collected in November 2023 and January 2024, I examine voters' perceptions of motherhood as a candidate trait in the US. I build on the concept of "politicized motherhood" (Deason, Greenlee, and Langler 2015) which describes the use of a maternal identity on the campaign trail (and in the political sphere more broadly) as both a beneficial framing of female candidacy and potentially reinforcing gender stereotypes. I look at the differences between voters' perceptions of female candidates who are mothers and female candidates who are non-mothers, paying special attention to partisanship and religious affiliation. I find a sharp distinction between mainline Protestant and Evangelical voters' attitudes towards motherhood as a candidate trait, where Protestant voters show a preference for candidates who are mothers, and Evangelical voters do not. Additionally, I find distinct differences between characteristics voters attribute to elected officials who are women and character traits of elected officials who are mothers specifically.

Authors

• Anna Hirschi

• Anna Lee Hirschi