The Chilly Climate Continues: Defrosting the Gender Divide in Political Science and Politics

This paper examines whether there is a continued gender gap in the political interest and engagement of first-year college students enrolled in introductory American politics classes. Using data from a survey completed by over 2,000 students at 20 colleges and universities across the United States, we look for variations in students' plans to vote, parental interest in politics, attention to political events, plans to influence public policy, and plans to run for office. We present evidence that while male and female students register to vote and plan to go to the polls at similar rates, female students are less likely to follow politics, to have an interest in influencing public policy, and to consider running for office than their male peers. With these trends in mind, we offer a number of suggestions for instructors to adopt both in and outside the classroom in an effort to warm this chilly climate.