THE VARIABLE GENDER BASIS OF ELECTORAL-POLITICS - GENDER AND CONTEXT IN THE 1992 US ELECTION

Despite considerable research, the theory of gender difference in elec toral behaviour remains underdeveloped, especially in accounting for v ariation across elections. We focus on two aspects requiring particula r attention: (1) accounts of gender difference, especially distinguish ing between positional explanations, in which gender differences stem from men and women taking the same considerations into account, but ha ving different positions on those considerations, or structural explan ations, in which gender differences stem from men and women taking dif ferent considerations into account in making judgements; (2) the effec ts of electoral context in cuing gender as a consideration, thus stimu lating or inhibiting the appearance of gender differences. We use a ca se study of the 1992 US presidential election, often labelled 'The Yea r of the Woman', to explore these problems.