Are Women Suited For Politics? Americans Are Deeply Divided

Survey reveals deep divisions over women's roles.

ByABC News
September 18, 2008, 5:59 PM

Sept. 18, 2008— -- The survey reveals deep divisions over women's roles in society, splits that may play out in the November elections.

For example, 33% of Americans say "Most men are better suited emotionally for politics than most women." But 44% of evangelical Protestants agree, more than other Christians and markedly higher than Jews (29%), other religions (23%), and those with no religion (14%).

Baylor's data were gathered in 2007, when Sen. Hillary Clinton was seeking the Democratic nomination, but long before Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was named to the Republican vice presidential ticket, putting motherhood and gender in the spotlight. Palin is a mother of five, including an infant with Down syndrome.

Both Republican candidates are evangelical Protestants (John McCain is Baptist and Palin non-denominational). Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is a mainline Protestant (United Church of Christ), whose running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, is Roman Catholic.

The survey also finds:

•41% say a preschooler suffers if the mother works (54% of evangelicals say so, nearly double for other groups).

•31% say "it's God's will that women care for children" (48% for evangelicals).

Will these views shape votes?

"People may hold these social values, but they don't always translate at the polls," says Lauren Winner, assistant professor of Christian spirituality at Duke University. "While a conservative view of gender roles is a piece of an evangelical worldview, it's not the most important plank for people — abortion is.

"People can spin Palin's contravention of traditional roles — a nursing mother possibly in the White House — by latching on to her clear pro-life stance."