Of What Is That Glass Ceiling Made?

Abstract

Using data from the 2000 National Annenberg Election Survey, this study examines the predictors of reporting that a woman or man would do a better job as president considering the national issue most important to the respondent. Gender, education, and ideology are strong predictors of presidential gender preference. Naming health care as the most important problem facing the nation is positively associated with believing a female president would do a better job, even when controlling for sociodemographic, party identification, and ideology variables. Selecting taxes as the problem is associated with believing that a male president would do a better job.