The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Gender in Political Participation: Examining Their Interactions with Partisanship

This article examines socioeconomic status (SES) and gender and their impact on political participation and representation. Using the 2012 and 2020 American National Election Studies (ANES), the research uncovers that higher SES is positively correlated with increased political participation in voting behavior. This study finds no significant interaction effect between SES and political party identification, suggesting that these factors influence political engagement independently. The gender analysis reveals notable biases, with male respondents consistently exhibiting less favorable attitudes toward female politicians. This study also explores the interaction between gender and party identification, particularly in attitudes toward female political representation in 2012 and 2020, revealing subtle shifts over time. It contributes to the ongoing discourse on democratic inclusivity and emphasizes the role of targeted educational and policy initiatives in overcoming the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in politics.