The phenomenon of the gender gap — the fact that women as a whole are more supportive of the Democratic Party than men are — masks significant divisions in the American electorate. …
It almost goes without saying, but men and women who support traditional gender roles for men and women lean strongly toward the Republican Party; men and women who question traditional gender roles and who are sympathetic to women’s rights lean strongly to the Democratic Party.
The public reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v Wade last month reflects this divide. A June 24-25 CBS/YouGov survey found that women disagreed with the Dobbs decision 67-33 while men disapproved by 51-39. The gap is there, but we need to think about it in different terms.
The emergence of these two coalitions adds to our understanding of the pervasive polarization between left and right that dominates American politics. And it doesn’t just divide the electorate; it also has a huge impact on public policymaking. CONTINUED
Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times
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