Research and Scholarship

CAWP research and research by CAWP scholars that addresses emerging questions about American women's political participation. 

  • The Status of Black Women in American Politics 2014

    By the Center for American Women and Politics for Higher Heights Leadership Fund, 2014
    Authored by Kelly Dittmar, Ph.D, Assistant Research Professor, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University

    This comprehensive report provides a historical outline of black women’s struggle for political representation and discusses the current landscape of political leadership for black women across the country as well as their growing political influence. It demonstrates the need for greater engagement, recruitment, and inclusion of black women in politics and government.

    Report
    Research
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    State Legislature
    Local
    Statewide Executive
    Congress
    Access the report

  • Widows Who Succeeded Their Husbands in Congress

    Fact Sheet
    Congress

  • The Gender Gap: Gender Differences in Vote Choice and Political Orientations

    by Kelly Dittmar
    7/15/14 

    Women and men are political actors with distinct political preferences. These differences – or gender gaps – emerged in the 1980s and have been persistent since then in vote choice, party identification, and presidential performance ratings. In its latest edition of "A Closer Look," CAWP highlights what we know about gender gaps and asks key questions about potential gender differences in voting in 2014.

    Fact Sheet
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    A Closer Look
    Women Voters and the Gender Gap
    DownloadThe Gender Gap: Gender Differences in Vote Choice and Political Orientations

  • Gender Gap: Party Identification and Presidential Performance Ratings

    Polling data from 1981-2014 on differences between men and women on party identification and presidential performance ratings, from Ronald Reagan through Barack Obama.

    Fact Sheet
    Women's Vote Watch
    Election Watch
    Political Parties
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Women Voters and the Gender Gap
    Federal Executive
    DownloadGender Gap: Party Identification and Presidential Performance Ratings