Sex and the Political Contributor: The Gender Gap among Contributors to Presidential Candidates in 1988

Abstract

We investigate the gender gap in policy preferences among political contributors. We find a bivariate gap in both parties, with Democratic women being more liberal than Democratic men, and Republican women more conservative than Republican men. This reverse gender gap among Republican contributors is explained by the greater appeal of Pat Robertson to women. After controls for religious variables, Republican women contributors are found to be more liberal than their male counterparts.