VOTING BEHAVIOREconomic and Social Disadvantage Can Affect Young Citizens’ Voter TurnoutHardships Affect Different Racial Groups DistinctlyA study recently published in volume 64(3) of the Journal of Social Issues illustrates how certain disadvantages experienced in adolescence, such as early pregnancy, dropping out of high school, being arrested, or going to an underprivileged school, contribute to lower voter turnout in young adulthood. In addition, the types of disadvantage vary across racial groups. Julianna Sandell Pacheco and Eric Plutzer of The Pennsylvania State University used data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey to measure disadvantage and voter participation. Hardships affected cumulative turnout of disadvantaged youth, but in a manner specific to each racial group. For White youth, early pregnancy or parenthood leads to dropping out of high school, and the combined impact of these two events resulting in a turnout decline of more than 30 percent. For Blacks, being arrested is associated with dropping out of high school, subsequently decreasing turnout by more than 30 percent. Institutions have both a positive and negative influence on youth voter turnout, acting to both increase and decrease the impact of these disadvantages on political participation. Whites who are poor are more likely to attend disadvantaged middle and high schools, which additively decreases turnout. Community colleges, however, increase youth voter turnout immensely among Blacks. “The cumulative disadvantages experienced by some youths contribute to lower voter turnout,” the authors conclude. “Rising economic segregation and economic inequality has the potential to increase political inequality in the United States.” _________________ This study is published in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Social Issues. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net. To view the abstract for this article, please click here. The author of the study, Julianna Sandell Pacheco, is affiliated with The Pennsylvania State University and can be reached for questions.
Many Children Attribute White Male Monopoly on White House to DiscriminationAustin, TX – October 8, 2008 – A new study in the journal Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy explored elementary-school-age children’s views about the role of race and gender in the U.S. presidency, Results indicated that most children are aware that women and people of color have been excluded from the presidency. Further, many children attributed the lack of female, African American, and Latino presidents to gender and racial discrimination. In the year prior to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s bids to become the Democratic nominee, researchers interviewed children between five and ten years of age from various ethnic and racial backgrounds to assess their knowledge of and attributions for the lack of female, African American, and Latino presidents. The study found that most children endorsed the belief that the presidency should be filled by people of both genders and diverse races and ethnicities. At the same time, most children reported that women and people of color have been excluded from the role Surprisingly, when asked about potential legal barriers, one in four children stated that it was currently against the law for women, African Americans, or Latinos to be President. Many children also blamed those who have been excluded, arguing that they lack the necessary attributes to hold the position, including the fact women aren’t as smart as men. Girls who attributed the lack of female presidents to discrimination were more likely to report that they could not really become president, even if they were interested in doing so. In contrast, among African American children, attributions to discrimination were associated with an increased interest in becoming president, perhaps, Bigler said, as a result of the long and well-known history of African-Americans’ struggle to achieve equality in the United States,” “Our research suggests that the U.S. presidency is a high-profile instance of gender and racial exclusion that is well known by young children and may shape their expectations concerning gender and race relations and discrimination,” the authors note. “If Obama loses his bid for the presidency, there may be little change in children's attitudes, but it could fuel their perception that American voters are racially prejudiced," Bigler said. "In contrast, if Obama wins children may believe that exclusionary laws and racial prejudice no longer shape the outcomes of the presidential elections.” ____________________ This study is published in the October 2008 issue of Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net. To view the abstract for this article, please click here. The author of this study, Rebecca Bigler, is affiliated with The University of Texas at Austin and can be reached for questions.
Democracy and Disenfranchisement in
|