FAQ

Gender Watch 2018 is a non-partisan project of the Center for American Women and Politics and the Barbara Lee Family Foundation to track, analyze, and illuminate gender dynamics in election 2018. Through its website, social media presence, and expert commentary, the project is a timely and valuable new resource for media covering the 2018 election, as well as for the general public.

Gender Watch 2018 will draw upon the research and expertise of both partner organizations, as well as contributing scholars and practitioners, to inform the public dialogue and further public understanding of the myriad ways in which gender shapes political campaigns and campaigning. More specifically, the project will closely monitor and analyze the numbers, success, and strategies of women candidates in 2018 with an intersectional lens. The goal is to lend expert analysis to the dialogue around gender throughout the election season. Gender Watch 2018 experts will provide original, research-based analyses of gender in election 2018, as well as curate, comment on, and provide context for election news in real-time via our website, social media, and direct engagement with press and the interested public. In addition to these analyses, Gender Watch 2018 will highlight and translate scholarship relevant to gender in this election season to its various audiences, bridging gaps between political research and practice.

Gender Watch 2018 is a nonpartisan project that does not advocate for, endorse, or support any candidates or issue positions. Instead, the project analyzes how all candidates, male and female, navigate gender dynamics in the political context of 2018.

The goal of Gender Watch 2018 is not to be a watchdog for sexism, but to thoughtfully engage in conversation on gendered topics that have and will continue to emerge throughout the 2018 cycle. Sexism – including the presence, claims, or impact of it – will be one of those topics, and a meaningful dialogue around it will recognize variance in how it is defined, measured, and/or applied to or by candidates, voters, or media. We will rely upon scholarship on gender bias to provide a thoughtful framework for analysis, within which there are no universal rules for what is or is not sexist. Moreover, Gender Watch 2018 will present a much broader range of topics for dialogue and discussion throughout the 2018 cycle, investigating how, where, and in what ways gender shapes the experiences, strategies, and evaluations of candidates, as well as media coverage of/in this election.

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) has partnered with the Barbara Lee Family Foundation to launch Gender Watch 2018. A nonpartisan research institute at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, CAWP brings to the table almost five decades of national recognition as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about American women’s political participation. CAWP has tracked and analyzed women’s candidacies and representation for decades. The Barbara Lee Family Foundation advances women’s equality and representation in American politics through nonpartisan political research and strategic partnerships, always guided by the core belief that women’s voices strengthen our democracy and enrich our culture. The Foundation produces pragmatic guides for women on both sides of the aisle that enable candidates to maximize strategic advantages and clear hurdles on their way to public office. For more information about each organization, see our About page

Gender Watch 2018 will be weighing in on gender dynamics in the 2018 election through multiple outlets and we encourage you to join us in this conversation. First, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to receive daily news updates from our team and to weigh in with your thoughts. Next, sign up for our newsletters to get the project updates, highlights, and the latest analyses of gender and the 2018 election from expert contributors to Gender Watch 2018. Finally, if you would like to contribute to our blog, please contact us at [email protected].