Serani - Mama Still Hungry | Stinkin Rich [dj kwik!]
Women's vote clinched Obama's victory
Eight million more women than men voted for Obama.
Dateline: Monday, November 10, 2008
from the Institute for Women's Policy Research
Analysis of preliminary CNN exit poll data shows that the gender gap in voting helped to bring President-Elect Obama to victory. Nationally, 56 percent of women (who were 53 percent of voters) voted for Barack Obama compared with 49 percent of men (who were 47 percent of voters). Nationwide, it is estimated that Senator Obama received 35,900,000 votes from women and 27,800,000 votes from men.
Gender gap was large in key battleground states where African American women made their voices heard.
"This 7-point gender gap, combined with women's greater turnout, was a major factor in the election's results," said Dr Heidi Hartmann, founder of the Institute for Women's Policy Research. "The same is true in some key battleground states, where women were also the majority of voters."
In 2004, the gender gap was 7 percentage points, with 55 percent of men versus 48 percent of women voting for President Bush (44 percent of men and 51 percent of women voted for John Kerry). In 2000, the gap was 10 percentage points with 53 percent of men versus 43 percent of women voting for President Bush (42 percent of men and 54 percent of women voted for Al Gore). While the percentage point gender difference in votes for the winner in 2004 equaled that seen in 2008, Barack Obama benefited from a larger share of women's votes than John Kerry or Al Gore.
One reason for Obama's success among both female and male voters was their perception that he is better equipped to deal with the nation's economic crisis. "In this time of extreme economic insecurity, Obama spoke directly to women's concerns. He projected empathy for women's financial struggles and understands how hard it can be to keep a job today while caring for families," said Dr Vicky Lovell, IWPR's Acting Director of Research.
"Our research shows that women feel more anxiety over financial burdens and their overall economic well-being than men — and, in fact, women are more economically vulnerable than men. Obama offered hope while acknowledging women's struggles."
During the 2008 campaign, both parties tried to attract women voters. McCain chose Gov Sarah Palin as his running mate, and his campaign played up perceived sexism against her in the media and by their Democratic opponents. Obama emphasized his support for pay equity and work/life balance policies. He also stressed McCain's votes against pay equity legislation and expanded health insurance for children and McCain's support for private investment accounts for Social Security.
"Obama spoke directly to women's issues like pay equity, paid leave and early childhood development," said Erica Williams, Study Director at IWPR. "Proposing concrete policy solutions to address more of the issues that women prioritize may have helped Obama increase women's turnout and the gender gap. Had McCain pursued a similar issues-based strategy for attracting women voters he may have earned more support from women."
"The moral of this story is that political candidates should not take women for granted. Candidates who speak in an intentional and sincere manner to the issues that concern women most will benefit from their support," remarked Dr Barbara Gault, IWPR's Acting President.
"African American women in particular played a large role in this election, especially in several key battleground states," remarked Ms. Williams. "More African American women voted in this presidential election than in any other."
In North Carolina, where the vote count remains unfinished, CNN estimates that 100 percent of African American women voted for Barack Obama, 13 percentage points higher than African American men, and they made up 14 percent of voters (African American men were 9 percent of voters).
In Virginia, 94 percent of African American women voted for Barack Obama, 5 percentage points higher than their male counterparts, and they made up 10 percent of voters (the same share as African American men).
In Pennsylvania, 95 percent of African American women and men voted for Obama, but African American women made up a higher share of voters (8 percent versus 5 percent).
African American women played a crucial role in North Carolina's other races as well. In the Senate race, they voted for Democratic challenger and election victor Kay Hagan at a rate of 96 percent. Among all women, 55 percent supported Hagan. In the state's gubernatorial race, 96 percent of African American women voted for Beverly Perdue for governor, compared with 52 percent of women overall. African American women made up 12 percent of the voters in both of these races.
In New Hampshire, women gave Jeanne Shaheen a US Senate victory; 60 percent of women voted for her, compared with 45 percent of men. All in all, women helped to increase women's political representation in the Senate and House from 16 percent to 17 percent.
"Latina women were also an important voice this year," remarked Ms Williams. "In a state like New Mexico that went to the Republican candidate in 2004, their votes undoubtedly helped to tip the scales the other way."
The gender gap among Latinos in New Mexico (7 percentage points) was bigger than it was for white women and men (-2 percentage points) and for women and men overall (5 percentage points; data not shown).
Nearly three in four Latina women voted for Barack Obama, compared with about two in three Latino men. Latina women were fully one quarter of voters in that state, compared with Latino men who made up 16 percent of voters. In Nevada, there was no gender gap in voting among Latinos. Three in four Latina women and men voted for Barack Obama, but women were 9 percent of voters and men were 7 percent.
"Obama's tone and message struck a chord with many women," says Dr Cynthia Hess, IWPR Consulting Study Director. "Our work, especially our recently released report, The Challenge to Act shows that progressive women, too, have a forward-looking vision they know can only be achieved by recognizing our common humanity and that we have a shared responsibility to promote the well-being of all people."
The Institute for Women's Policy Research conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies. IWPR focuses on issues of poverty and welfare, employment and earnings, work and family, health and safety, and women's civic and political participation.
