The impact of gender-neutral pronouns on perceptions of candidates

Abstract

This study examines the role of candidate pronouns in the process of candidate evaluations. The experiment investigates what assumptions voters will make about gender neutral candidates and how voters will react to candidates who use gender neutral pronouns. Specifically, it explores candidates with gender neutral pronouns and voter perceptions of these candidates. Findings suggest that, overall, candidates who use gender neutral pronouns are not at a disadvantage when it comes to candidate evaluations. Candidates who use they/them pronouns are more likely to be favoured in comparison to candidates who use he/him pronouns but less likely to be favoured in comparison to candidates who use she/her pronouns. The results contradict the widely accepted notion that men are likely to be perceived more positively by voters than women. Finally, the author considers the ramifications of these results on future scholarship and what it means for women and gender diverse political candidates.