What Causes the Gender Gap?

The gender gap in voting is based on gender gaps in public issues, primarily in three cluster areas: violence, health and human services, and women's rights. Both public opinion polls and studies with elected officials confirm a significant gender gap in women's and men's views, with greater numbers of women supporting gun control, social services, affirmative action, reductions in the military budget, and other important policy issues.

Poll after poll has demonstrated that women support women's rights, an Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abortion rights, affirmative action for women and minorities, and gay and lesbian rights at higher intensity levels than men. Women have been more willing than men to condition their votes on the basis of these issues by a 10-point margin.

Mobilizing the gender gap will give women more influence over national politics and policy. The gender gap has proven to be powerful enough to elect a President, and its increasing influence over electoral politics can improve national attention to domestic violence, rape, hate crimes, pay equity, abortion rights, and other issues that affect the lives of women and girls every day.