A history of the gender gap

(CBS News) Women's issues have prompted discussion in the political sphere on subjects including reproductive health, contraception and career choices. Recent polls show a sizable gender gap in voters' support, offering insight into questions and speculation about how these issues may affect the upcoming presidential election.

In the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll, 49 percent of women voters now support President Barack Obama, with Mitt Romney receiving 43 percent, giving Obama a 6 point lead. Among men, it's the reverse: 49 percent support Romney, and 43 percent back Mr. Obama, for a 6 point lead in the other direction. Other polls have shown similar - sometimes even larger - differences, with Mr. Obama consistently receiving a greater share of the women's vote than Romney.

This gender division is not unusual. It follows a voting pattern established over the past 20 years. In presidential elections, more women have voted for the Democratic candidate, while more men have voted for the Republican. (Before 1992, the vote among women was split or favored Republican presidential candidates.) It's worth pointing out that in 2004 John Kerry ran just 3 percentage points ahead of George W. Bush among women, due at least in part to concerns among women about terrorism.

While it's problematic to compare voting patterns for midterm and presidential elections because turnout for each type of election is different, the 2010 midterm election was unusual in that women voted for Republican candidates over Democrats for the House of Representatives that year by 1 percentage point, which was the first election since 1982 more women voted for House Republicans - erasing the double digit lead the Democrats received among women in the 2008 presidential election. In that respect, the return of the gender gap in the 2012 pre-election polls is noteworthy.

Women have traditionally been more likely to identify themselves as Democrats, and that's the case in the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll: 37 percent do so, compared to 31 percent of men. Women are also more likely than men to want the government to do more to improve the economy (72 percent, versus 62 percent of men) and the housing market (57 percent, versus 46 percent of men).

Of course, women don't vote as a single block. The CBS/New York Times Poll shows differences between single, married and working women. President Obama earns a greater share of single and working women's support, while married women are now backing Romney. But strong support for Democratic presidential candidates among women overall is nothing new.

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[JohnHinAZ]

It is your absolute right, as an American, to believe as your heart, mind and soul guide you to believe. But I, as an American, believe Governor Romney's ancestry is inappropriate to our political discourse. Mr. Romney has denied the rumors of polygamy. I have not seen any evidence these rumors are true, and I would not care very much if they were. Governor Romney is not his father.

Snide comments about Mr. Romney's ancestry or faith, or about President Obama's birth certificate or faith, do nothing to help us choose our next president. Innuendos cheapens the American political conversation about a presidential election that presents us with serious choices for our country.

I support President Obama's reelection and will no doubt vote for him in November. But, I respect Governor Romney for his high moral character, his strong advocacy for what he believes, for his willingness to serve our nation and for his faith in the God who made us all.

Characterizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as 'cultish' demeans our 13 million fellow citizens who practice that faith. It might be helpful for those of us Christians who are not Mormon to remember that Christianity itself was once a cult.

I urge tolerance in our views and temperance in our words. Our fellow Americans follow many religions and hold many beliefs. It is part of what makes this the greatest nation on earth.

[JohnHinAZ]

It is your absolute right, as an American, to believe as your heart, mind and soul guide you to believe. But I, as an American, believe Governor Romney's ancestry is inappropriate to our political discourse. Mr. Romney has denied the rumors of polygamy. I have not seen any evidence these rumors are true, and I would not care very much if they were. Governor Romney is not his father.

Snide comments about Mr. Romney's ancestry or faith, or about President Obama's birth certificate or faith, do nothing to help us choose our next president. Innuendos cheapens the American political conversation about a presidential election that presents us with serious choices for our country.

I support President Obama's reelection and will no doubt vote for him in November. But, I respect Governor Romney for his high moral character, his strong advocacy for what he believes, for his willingness to serve our nation and for his faith in the God who made us all.

Characterizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as 'cultish' demeans our 13 million fellow citizens who practice that faith. It might be helpful for those of us Christians who are not Mormon to remember that Christianity itself was once a cult.

I urge tolerance in our views and temperance in our words. Our fellow Americans follow many religions and hold many beliefs. It is part of what makes this the greatest nation on earth.

[myth1958]

Sarah Dutton feeds it into the computer and it prints out nice and neat, detailing an apparent minor edge for the President over Romney. I say, Ms. Dutton, that polls are fine for a snapshot but aren't giving us the fine detail. Women (and men who support their rights) are increasingly getting upset about the Republican attack on birth control, abortion rights and 'big government' suddenly all up in their health-care choices. This years' election is full of throwback issues we decided decades ago - yet the losers of those fights won't quit. Conservatives unhappy with women as equals are stumbling over the fact that these gals have the vote, now, and can do them some real damage if they put their minds to it. Women of today aren't dominated by their fathers or husbands or ministers when it comes to their own body and what they want to do with it. Obama is an ally. Romney is not. Come November we will have seen a million hours of commercials reminding us of the fetid goings-on in all these GOP-dominated campaigns and from of the mouths of their candidates and women will turn away: count on it. A couple of us men, too.

[Dgunner]

Romney will not imo get the popular vote among people south of kansas and definitely not among the Native American blood lines in my area.Then again people voted for Obama who still rolls easter eggs on the lawn of the Whitehouse a pagan ritual taught and passed down to generations. :The sins of the fathers fall on the heads of the children. A man's actions like his footprints follow him.Slow to fade and can only end where they begin . With the man.Tallturtle Sevenstar 1965.

[hopetrumps]

And just wait till women all find out that Romney's father is a descendant of a polygamy commune in Mexico. How could any sound-minded Christian woman vote for someone who puts the cultish Book of Mormon ahead of the HOLY BIBLE?

[JohnHinAZ]

It is your absolute right, as an American, to believe as your heart, mind and soul guide you to believe. But I, as an American, believe Governor Romney's ancestry is inappropriate to our political discourse. Mr. Romney has denied the rumors of polygamy. I have not seen any evidence these rumors are true, and I would not care very much if they were. Governor Romney is not his grandfather.

Snide comments about Mr. Romney's ancestry or faith, or about President Obama's birth certificate or faith, do nothing to help us choose our next president. Innuendos cheapens the American political conversation about a residential election that presents us with serious choices for our country.

I support President Obama's reelection and will no doubt vote for him in November. But, I respect Governor Romney for his high moral character, his strong advocacy for what he believes, for his willingness to serve our nation and for his faith in the God who made us all.

Characterizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as 'cultish' demeans our 13 million fellow citizens who practice that faith. It might be helpful for those of us Christians who are not Mormon to remember that Christianity itself was once a cult.

I urge tolerance in our views and temperance in our words. Our fellow Americans follow many religions and hold many beliefs. It is part of what makes this the greatest nation on earth.