The Changing Face of Representation
The Gender of U.S. Senators and Constituent Communications
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Gender Studies, Political Science, Government
| Author: | Kim Fridkin, Patrick Kenney | ISBN: | 9780472120086 |
| Publisher: | University of Michigan Press | Publication: | March 24, 2014 |
| Imprint: | University of Michigan Press | Language: | English |
| Author: | Kim Fridkin, Patrick Kenney |
| ISBN: | 9780472120086 |
| Publisher: | University of Michigan Press |
| Publication: | March 24, 2014 |
| Imprint: | University of Michigan Press |
| Language: | English |
As the number of women in the U.S. Senate grows, so does the number of citizens represented by women senators. At the same time, gender remains a key factor in senators’ communications to constituents as well as in news media portrayals of senators. Focusing on 32 male and female senators during the 2006 congressional election year, Kim L. Fridkin and Patrick J. Kenney examine in detail senators’ official websites, several thousand press releases and local news stories, and surveys of 18,000 citizens to discern constituents’ attitudes about their senators.
The authors conclude that gender role expectations and stereotypes do indeed constrain representational and campaign messages and influence news coverage of both candidates and elected senators. Further, while citizens appear to be less influenced by entrenched stereotypes, they pay more attention to female senators’ messages and become more knowledgeable about them, in comparison to male senators.
As the number of women in the U.S. Senate grows, so does the number of citizens represented by women senators. At the same time, gender remains a key factor in senators’ communications to constituents as well as in news media portrayals of senators. Focusing on 32 male and female senators during the 2006 congressional election year, Kim L. Fridkin and Patrick J. Kenney examine in detail senators’ official websites, several thousand press releases and local news stories, and surveys of 18,000 citizens to discern constituents’ attitudes about their senators.
The authors conclude that gender role expectations and stereotypes do indeed constrain representational and campaign messages and influence news coverage of both candidates and elected senators. Further, while citizens appear to be less influenced by entrenched stereotypes, they pay more attention to female senators’ messages and become more knowledgeable about them, in comparison to male senators.
