- Female students are far more likely than male students to say being a man is extremely or very helpful for candidates (78% vs. 58%).
- Female students are also more likely than male students to say being white is extremely or very helpful for candidates (81% vs. 56%).
- While a majority of students don’t see politics in their future, Asian students are even less likely than their peers to consider campaigning. Nine in 10 (90%) Asian students say they are unlikely to ever run for office.
Although the 116th Congress is the most diverse group in history, women and people of color are still underrepresented at the highest echelons of elected office. Women currently make up less than one-fourth (24%) of all members of Congress, and people of color comprise just 22%.
Because college students are the nation’s future leaders, we asked who sees themselves entering the political arena one day — and who doesn’t.
A new survey of 3,890 current undergraduates found that female students are far more likely to say men have a political advantage when running for elected office. More than three-fourths of female students (78%) say being a man is extremely or very helpful in winning elected office, compared to 58% of male students who agree.
The gender gap is even wider when it comes to students’ views on potential racial advantages. Female students (81%) are far more likely than male students (56%) to say being white is extremely or very helpful for candidates.
Female Students are More Likely to Say Being White Helps Candidates
How helpful, if at all, do you think being white is in winning elected office in the U.S.?
In addition, students of color are significantly more likely to say that a candidate’s race can give them a leg up. While two-thirds of white students (66%) say being white is extremely or very helpful for political candidates, 81% of black students, 77% of Hispanic students, and 74% of Asian students say the same.
Almost 9 in 10 college students (86%) say they are unlikely to ever run for elected office. Only 11% say they are somewhat likely to run for office one day, and just 3% say they are very likely to run.
However, male students (17%) are more likely than female students (10%) to say they might seek elected office. Two-thirds of female students (66%) say they are very unlikely to campaign for political office, compared to 54% of male students.
Male Students are More Likely to Consider Running For Office
Do you think you would ever run for elected office?
While the majority of students don’t see a political future for themselves, Asian students are even less likely than their peers to consider campaigning. Nine in 10 Asian students (90%) say they are unlikely to ever run for office, compared to 86% of black students, 86% of white students, and 82% of Hispanic students.
To receive regular updates about this study, as well as other key college student insights, sign up here.
__________________________
Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 3,890 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
