Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Over the past two decades, Americans are increasingly able to identify themselves as liberals and conservatives, and these self-identifications are increasingly correlated to partisanship. During this time period, a gender gap in ideological identifications also occurred. While the largest group of men and women were moving into the conservative category, a smaller group of women became more liberal. This liberal group is composed of women who are white, well educated, employed and single. Religious orientations and social issues such as abortion have become more connected to ideology for both men and women. Men’s ideology is more strongly defined by social welfare issues, while women’s ideology is influenced by their attitudes on the role of women in society.