A.  Go to the Gender Gap web site and examine the participation rates for men and women in your state. Compare men’s and women’s participation rates in various regions in the country. Are they similar or different? In which region do women enjoy advantages or disadvantages? Using the CAWP web site’s ranking of women in state legislatures, examine any patterns between women’s participation rates and women serving in public office. What kinds of research questions might you derive from this information?





B.  Data suggest that voters in their twenties participate at much lower rates than any other age group in the country. Although women vote at higher rates than men in this age group, there is a sizable male advantage among first-year college students who believe it is important to influence the political structure. Why do you think this gap exists? What kinds of implications for political participation throughout the life cycle might result from this early gap?





C.  The gender gap is a topic of great interest in each election year. There are a variety of explanations for the source of the gender gap as well as for the implications of the size of the gender gap. After reading the two articles listed below (accessible online via JSTOR), compare and contrast the authors’ findings on the source and implications for the gender gap. In your judgment, is this a significant political phenomenon? Will women be in a position to shape American electoral politics as a result of the gender gap?

Karen M. Kaufmann and John R. Petrocik, "The Changing Politics of American Men: Understanding the Sources of the Gender Gap," American Journal of Political Science 43:3, (July 1999): 864–887.

Pamela Johnston Conover, "Feminists and the Gender Gap," The Journal of Politics, 50:4, (Nov 1988): 985–1010.





D.  Pay a visit to a toy store in your area or go to an online toy store and browse the types of toys available. Are there any clear gender distinctions among the toys? Choose one toy that you believe is being marketed for girls and one that is intended for boys and evaluate what children will learn from playing with the toys. Are there gendered messages being sent in toy selection? If so, does it matter? In what way does socialization through play impact political development and future political participation by males and females?