Masculinity, Media, and the American Presidency

Meredith Conroy is Assistant Professor of Political Science at California State University, San Bernardino, USA.

"This book is the first to theorize and analyze the role of gendered candidate framing in presidential elections. Conroy's meticulous empirical work reveals that gendered framing is a significant factor in who wins the White House, even when both of the candidates are male. She takes the field in a refreshing new direction that better explains the dynamics of presidential politics." - Caroline Heldman, Associate Professor of Politics, Occidental College, USA "In Masculinity, Media, and the American Presidency, Meredith Conroy breaks new ground. Her innovative gender framing theory proves powerful, her broader consideration of gender is eye-opening, and her contribution could not be more timely. Conroy strikes the perfect balance between nuanced narrative and sophisticated analysis." - Justin Vaughn, Professor of Political Science, Boise State University, USA, and author of Czars in the White House: The Rise of Policy Czars as a Presidential Management Tools (2015) "In this innovative and well-researched study, Meredith Conroy provides a thoughtful analysis on gender conflict framing in news coverage of presidential campaigns. Through content analysis and the merging of research in the areas of gender, media, and leadership, Conroy shows that the over-reliance of gendered media language in coverage of presidential candidates elevates masculine traits as those most desired by voters, disadvantaging women seeking higher office by potentially altering perceptions of their political leadership capabilities." - Lori Cox Han, Professor of Political Science, Chapman University, USA, and author of In It to Win: Electing Madam President (2015)

• 1. Introduction: Man Enough? 2. Masculinity and Femininity in Politics: Expectations and Implications 3. Gender Bias and Mainstream Media 4. Gender Conflict Framing Theory 5. Gendered Character in Presidential Elections: A Descriptive Analysis 6. Gender Conflict Framing in Election Coverage 7. The Difference Women Make? The Difference Femininity Makes