GENDER-BASED DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS OF MALE AND FEMALE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

This research examines voter attitudes toward male and female candidat es for entry-level multi-candidate city council positions under condit ions of information. Substantive gender-based differences in evaluatio ns of the office-related capabilities of male and female city council candidates were found. These differences may impede the election and p olitical advancement of some female city council candidates. Given thi s, female candidates need to conduct campaigns which communicate suffi cient information and control issues to counter or neutralize gender-r elated bias.