Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat?
Research on evaluations of leaders has frequently found that female leaders receive lower ratings in times of national security crisis. However, less is known about countervailing factors. We contend that partisanship and leadership experience in relevant domains are two factors that can counteract...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Research & Politics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016688121 |
| _version_ | 1818790258549981184 |
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| author | Mirya R. Holman Jennifer L. Merolla Elizabeth J. Zechmeister |
| author_facet | Mirya R. Holman Jennifer L. Merolla Elizabeth J. Zechmeister |
| author_sort | Mirya R. Holman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on evaluations of leaders has frequently found that female leaders receive lower ratings in times of national security crisis. However, less is known about countervailing factors. We contend that partisanship and leadership experience in relevant domains are two factors that can counteract the negative effects of terrorist threat on evaluations of female political leaders. To test this expectation, we implemented a national study in 2012 containing terrorist threat and non-threat conditions, and then asked participants to evaluate political leaders. The results show that Republican leaders, including women, are unaffected by terrorist threat; in contrast, Democratic leaders are punished during times of terrorist threat, but this negative effect is smaller for then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton compared to Nancy Pelosi, who lacks similar experience. In short, Republican partisanship is a strong countervailing factor, while leadership experience in national security more modestly countervails. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:52:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b5ea204af3c4746af302e12389271ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2053-1680 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:52:36Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research & Politics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b5ea204af3c4746af302e12389271ae2022-12-21T21:04:07ZengSAGE PublishingResearch & Politics2053-16802017-02-01410.1177/205316801668812110.1177_2053168016688121Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat?Mirya R. Holman0Jennifer L. Merolla1Elizabeth J. Zechmeister2Tulane University, USAUniversity of California, Riverside, USAVanderbilt University, USAResearch on evaluations of leaders has frequently found that female leaders receive lower ratings in times of national security crisis. However, less is known about countervailing factors. We contend that partisanship and leadership experience in relevant domains are two factors that can counteract the negative effects of terrorist threat on evaluations of female political leaders. To test this expectation, we implemented a national study in 2012 containing terrorist threat and non-threat conditions, and then asked participants to evaluate political leaders. The results show that Republican leaders, including women, are unaffected by terrorist threat; in contrast, Democratic leaders are punished during times of terrorist threat, but this negative effect is smaller for then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton compared to Nancy Pelosi, who lacks similar experience. In short, Republican partisanship is a strong countervailing factor, while leadership experience in national security more modestly countervails.https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016688121 |
| spellingShingle | Mirya R. Holman Jennifer L. Merolla Elizabeth J. Zechmeister Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? Research & Politics |
| title | Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? |
| title_full | Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? |
| title_fullStr | Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? |
| title_short | Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat? |
| title_sort | can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016688121 |
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