Murray State University
The Mobilizing Effect of Descriptive Representation? The Impact of Representatives’ Race and Gender on Participation
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Political Science
Minor
Criminal Justice
KY House District #
5
KY Senate District #
1
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Brittany Wood
Department
Dept. of Political Science and Sociology
Abstract
Studies on the effect of increased descriptive representation on political participation have yielded mixed results. This research explores the relationship between descriptive representation and political participation. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how the race and gender of political representatives affect electorate participation. We conduct a unique survey experiment where participants receive communication from a political representative. The treatment conditions varied based on representative race (black, white) and gender (man, woman). We hypothesized that participants who receive correspondence from a representative of the same gender and race as themselves (i.e., in-group) will be more likely to participate than a participant who receives communication from a representative of a different gender and/or race (i.e., outgroup). Further, we explore the mediated effects of trust, inclusion, and empowerment on this relationship. Results indicate that empowerment mediates the relationship between descriptive representation and political participation. Additionally, evidence suggests an interaction between race and gender, such that White participants express significantly higher levels of empowerment with a White man representative and lower levels of empowerment with a Black man representative. Additionally, results indicate that Black participants have marginally significant higher levels of empowerment with a white woman as their representative. The results indicate that the race and gender of representatives has a significant effect on the electorate and sometimes in (un)expected ways.
The Mobilizing Effect of Descriptive Representation? The Impact of Representatives’ Race and Gender on Participation
Studies on the effect of increased descriptive representation on political participation have yielded mixed results. This research explores the relationship between descriptive representation and political participation. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how the race and gender of political representatives affect electorate participation. We conduct a unique survey experiment where participants receive communication from a political representative. The treatment conditions varied based on representative race (black, white) and gender (man, woman). We hypothesized that participants who receive correspondence from a representative of the same gender and race as themselves (i.e., in-group) will be more likely to participate than a participant who receives communication from a representative of a different gender and/or race (i.e., outgroup). Further, we explore the mediated effects of trust, inclusion, and empowerment on this relationship. Results indicate that empowerment mediates the relationship between descriptive representation and political participation. Additionally, evidence suggests an interaction between race and gender, such that White participants express significantly higher levels of empowerment with a White man representative and lower levels of empowerment with a Black man representative. Additionally, results indicate that Black participants have marginally significant higher levels of empowerment with a white woman as their representative. The results indicate that the race and gender of representatives has a significant effect on the electorate and sometimes in (un)expected ways.