Political Science Team Offers Analysis of Sexism in GOP Primary Voting

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Tatishe Nteta, Provost Professor of Political Science and Director of UMass Poll, Jesse Rhodes, political science, and Adam Eichen, PhD candidate, have written a piece for The Conversation focused on sexism of Republican voters during the recent primary. "Yes, Sexism Among Republican Voters Helped Sink Nikki Haley's Presidential Campaign" poses the question: How did Nikki Haley, an experienced political figure in both state and federal governments, lose to a candidate facing 91 state and federal charges? Analyzing a poll exploring the feelings of 1,064 Republicans, the authors found a high presence of "hostile sexism," or feelings of prejudice, resentment, and animus towards women, among respondents. 

"Only 27% of Haley supporters agreed with the statement that 'women seek to gain power by getting control over men,' but 38% of Trump voters agreed. Likewise, when asked whether 'women are too easily offended,' 52% of Trump supporters agreed, while 42% of those supporting Haley did so," note the authors. "Finally, when provided with the prompt that 'women exaggerate problems they have at work,' 37% of Trump voters agreed while only 25% of Haley voters expressed this view."