Cracks in the Glass Ceiling

Bias against female political candidates has been a hot-button issue, especially during and after the 2016 election, and the media is not exempt from being a part of the discussion. The overall question that this article proposes is whether there is a definitive bias against female political candidates in the media based on gender. More specifically, if there is a definitive bias, at what levels of government is it seen and felt the most? These questions are explored through peer-reviewed research and interviews with political researchers, educators and candidates themselves on how they feel the media portrays female candidates. These candidates include Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Wendy Davis, and Celia Israel. The article concludes in agreement with the research that there is a definitive bias against female candidates in the media. This bias is more present in higher offices like president of the United States and governor than it is with congress and legislature positions. What this article does is bring together existing research to paint a bigger picture on how the media effects the image of female candidates for voters. Having a bigger picture on this topic can help decide where future research is focused further pinpoint the issues that female candidates deal with.

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Journalism and Mass Communication

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Schooler, Leela

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fox, Kym

• political
• political communications
• politics
• gender and politics
• female political candidates
• Clinton, Hillary
• Davis, Wendy
• Palin, Sarah

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/7269

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/7269