Why are women and people of color underrepresented in U.S. politics? This article introduces strategic discrimination—when voters hesitate to support candidates due to fear of others objecting to their identity. Through three experiments, the author demonstrates that this phenomenon exists and significantly impacts real-world elections.
What We Find
- Voters' perception of electability is heavily influenced by a candidate's race and gender.
- Americans rate white male candidates as more electable than Black or female counterparts.
- Perceived electability varies dramatically across identity groups, showing strong intersectionality (e.g., Black women often rated least electable).
How It Works
- Anti-Trump voters considered Democratic opponents' identities when gauging who could win in 2020.
- Messages countering strategic discrimination had limited success.
- Diverse candidates can improve their perceived electability by showcasing a viable path to victory.
Why This Matters
Strategic discrimination is particularly relevant today due to:
- Growing diversity among political candidates.
- Heightened awareness of racial and gender bias in politics.
- Intense political polarization making identity-based concerns more salient.
