Southern Indiana Business July-August 2020 | Page 30

address their concerns, he said, adding
that a candidate would be foolish to ignore
their opinions and suggestions.
“I think it’s a powerful example of the
fact that a group of individuals can have
a significant effect on elections,” Dickey
said.
Wrzenski added other issues such as
health care, economic inequality and the
environment are also important to women
voters.
“Under these umbrella categories you
will see policy discussions around topics
like sex discrimination, domestic violence,
concerns about child care, maternity leave,
school safety, access to reproductive care”
and several other issues, she said.
In terms of party affiliation, more
women identify as Democrat compared to
Republican. According to a Pew Research
Center study, about 54% of women identified
as Democratic or leading Democratic
in 2016, compared to 38% who said they
were Republican or leaning Republican.
“As a result, Democrats tend to focus
on a more comprehensive package of
women’s issues when they campaign
and more women run for office under the
Democratic label,” Wrzenski said.
One reason women are voting at a
higher rate than men may be linked to
largely publicized events.
For instance, women have historically
been mobilized by the aftermath of the
Supreme Court confirmation hearings for
Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh,
and also by the “Me Too” movement,
which focused on sexual harassment and
abuse, Wrzenski said.
She also pointed to research by political
scientists Jennifer Lawless and Richard
Fox, who have stated that a “Trump
Effect” has galvanized women voters.
“In essence, the election of Donald
Trump produced a spike in political interest
and activity levels among the female
respondents surveyed relative to their
male counterparts,” Wrzenski said.
“This was particularly true for women
that identified themselves as Democrats.”
But listening to the concerns of women
isn’t a partisan issue.
Floyd County Clerk Danita Burks, a
Republican, said both major parties know
that the women’s vote is important.
“I think the platform on either side,
the parties realize the importance
of the women’s vote and the
women’s voice”
— Floyd County Clerk Danita Burks
30 July / August 2020