THE CONSEQUENCES OF GENDER STEREOTYPES FOR WOMEN CANDIDATES AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND TYPES OF OFFICE

Despite the recent electoral success of female candiates in local, sta te, and national elections, we find that voters' gender stereotypes ha ve potentially negative implications for women candidates, especially when running for national office. We test the political impact of ster eotypes by examining the relative importance of typical ''male'' and ' 'female'' personality traits and areas of issue competence for ''good' ' politicians and a hypothetical candidate at different types and leve ls of office. Overall, we find a preference for ''male'' characteristi cs at higher levels of office. We attempt to reconcile the existence o f gender stereotypes, which portray women candidates as insufficiently aggressive or less competent in their dealings with the military with the recent electoral success of women in national and statewide elect ions.