The Clinton/Palin Phenomenon and Young Women Voters

Abstract:     
Despite their differences in background and ideology, both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin share one experience - the failure to actually break the glass ceiling in American politics. The reasons for this are numerous and complicated and go beyond simple gender politics. Nonetheless, neither candidate ever enjoyed the wide support of young women. This Article surveys relevant polling data, studies from sociology and political science, internet resources, feminist theory, and the history of woman suffrage to explore the reasons for this phenomenon, particularly in light of feminist issues and the group characteristics of the Millennial Generation. Among other things, it concludes that age cohort effects trumped gender as forces motivating young women voters in the last election.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 33

Keywords: elections, voting, feminism, feminst theory, 2008 election, presidents, Clinton, Palin, woman suffrage, race, 19th amendment, politics, law and politics, generation

Accepted Paper Series