Increasing numbers of female candidates are running for Congress in American national elections. Despite the rise in female candidates running for office, women are not significantly increasing their presence in the House and Senate. A much hypothesized influence over the electoral fates of female candidates is the role of gender stereotypes. However, political science scholars have struggled to pinpoint the effect of stereotypes on vote choice, if there is any effect. This essay compares the way social psychology and political science scholars theoretically, conceptually and empirically test for gender stereotype influence over evaluations of female candidates and politicians. Differences emerge in the theoretical assumptions made in the two disciplines, the types of measures used in research, and the empirical tests conducted to demonstrate the presence or absence of stereotypes in evaluations of women. The discussion explores how scholars studying female candidates and politicians can integrate insights from social psychology to clarify the role of stereotypes in candidate evaluation and choice.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 September 2013
Rethinking stereotype reliance
Nichole M. Bauer
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
![](/ContentImages/journals/poli/32/1/1/WebImages/14715457-32.1.cover.jpg)
Politics and the Life Sciences
Vol. 32 • No. 1
Spring 2013
Vol. 32 • No. 1
Spring 2013
counter-stereotypic information
female candidates
gender prejudice
Gender stereotypes
stereotype activation
stereotype reliance
women in politics