Gender and Millennial Support for Women Political Leaders
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Gender and Millennial Support for Women Political Leaders Delaina Lea Sawyers Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Delaina L. Sawyers has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Karen Shafer, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Frances Goldman, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Michael Brewer, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Gender and Millennial Support for Women Political Leaders by Delaina L. Sawyers MEd, University of New Orleans BA, Northeastern Oklahoma State University Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2020 Abstract Despite comprising more than 50% of the population and voting in greater numbers than men, women are underrepresented in U.S. political leadership. Although research exists on the correlation between gender and politics, little literature addresses the influence of generation and gender on voting behavior. Using Jaggar’s liberal feminist theory as a framework, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between female generational cohorts and their policy preferences and candidate support. Two research questions assessed the differences between female millennials and baby boomers regarding policy preferences in the areas of income equality, opportunity, representation, and candidate support. A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed, using secondary data from the 2016 presidential election for millennial and baby boomer women voters aged 20 to 35 years and 52 to 70 years, respectively, totaling 1,111 respondents. Mann-Whitney U statistical test revealed significant generational policy preference differences in equal pay, income disparity, electing women, and experience of discrimination (p >.005). Binomial logistic regression did not find generation to be a predictor of candidate support (p <.005). These results suggest that policy is viewed differently between generations, but generation is not a predictor of vote choice. Implications for positive social change stemming from this study include recommendations to political campaigns and party platforms to design social policies to advance gender economic equality targeting wages and organizational workplace discrimination. Following this recommendation may increase opportunities for women in elected office. Gender and Millennial Support for Women Political Leaders by Delaina L. Sawyers MEd, University of New Orleans BA, Northeastern Oklahoma State University Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2020 Dedication I honor my grandmothers who have gone before me, and my mother who has made the way easier with her strength and sacrifice. My daughter, who has shown me all her life the power of unconditional love and what feminism really is, I dedicate this dissertation to you. Acknowledgments This life-changing experience would not have been possible without the academic foundation provided by the Walden faculty. Thank you, Dr. Karen Shafer, for your encouragement and focused mentoring, and Dr. Goldman, for your meaningful feedback. I especially thank my husband, Franklin G. Y. Chock, who supported me with time, attention, great meals, and loving approval every step of the way. Last, I thank my Hawaiian “Ohana” (family) who have accepted my absence at times without criticism, knowing that I had to write or study. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................4 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................5 Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................................5 Research Question 1 ............................................................................................... 6 Research Question 2 ............................................................................................... 7 Theoretical Foundation for the Study ............................................................................7 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................9 Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................11 Assumptions .................................................................................................................11 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................12 Limitations ...................................................................................................................14 Significance ..................................................................................................................15 Implications for Social Change ....................................................................................16 Summary ......................................................................................................................18 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................19 Introduction ..................................................................................................................19 Literature Search Strategy ............................................................................................22 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................24 i Literature Review Related to Key Variables and Concepts .........................................27 Rationale for the Choice of Liberal Feminist Theory ..................................................31 Gender, Millennials, and Policy ...................................................................................35 Gender Roles ......................................................................................................... 36 Millennials and Gender ......................................................................................... 37 Feminist Identity ................................................................................................... 39 Political Leadership and Representation ............................................................... 40 Policy ................................................................................................................... 41 Gender and Executive Political Leadership .......................................................... 44 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................44 Chapter 3: Research Methods ............................................................................................46 Introduction ..................................................................................................................46 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................47 Secondary Data ............................................................................................................51 Research Methods ........................................................................................................55 Research Questions and Hypotheses ...........................................................................55 Research Question 1 ............................................................................................. 55 Research Question 2 ............................................................................................. 57 Operationalization of Variables ............................................................................ 57 Independent Variables for Research Questions 1 and 2 ....................................... 59 Dependent Variables for Research Question 1 ....................................................