Sex at the Polls: The Invisible Voter.
Marks, Carole*,1, 1 , Windsor, ON, Canada
ABSTRACT- Sexuality, invisible and unmentionable as it is, casts the critical vote at the polls and chooses a leader, solely, according to its wishes. Political issues are viewed, myopically, through its lenses. Issues become virtually irrelevant, in the process. Sexuality, for Instance, can decide who will be President of the United States. And it usually does! Sex and Politics are inextricably connected -- within both society and the self. Because conservatives and liberals tend to differ in sexual attitudes and behaviors, we can identify a conservative versus a liberal ′′sexual style′′. The manner in which an individual votes and a society chooses a leader makes sexual sense -- both for the individual and for the culture. Although we, generally, are more liberal or more conservative, we can somewhat shift our position to the left or to the right. And, at times, we do. The link, then, between Politics and Sex -- at both the individual and cultural levels -- is not static: It is a dynamic and mutually interactive process. A look bock twenty-five years ago. The seventies, due, primarily, to the repercussions of the new feminist movement, was a decade of confusion and turbulence between the sexes in America. Our study* indicated that the country, uncomfortable with this chaotic situation, would defend against it. We concluded that America would become more conservative not only in sex but also in politics. And that′s what happened. In 1980, Ronald Reagan, a conservative with traditional, socio-sexual values, won the presidential election -- by a landside! And America remained conservative throughout the eighties. Past-forward to November, 2004! George W. Bush was voted bock in for another presidential term. Why? Alter 9/11, the country in fear, sought safety, security and protection. Americans expected their leader to be strong, brave, and resolute: ancestral characteristics of the archetypal male. And, of the two candidates for The White House, whom did America perceive as more traditionally masculine? During his campaign, George W. Bush had one message for the country: ′′I am your man!′′ And America ′′bought it′′! Once again, Sex --the ′′determinator′′ -- pulled its pranks at the political polls! *Findings and conclusions concerning conservative and liberal differentiation -- not only in politics but also in socio-sexual attitudes and reported behaviors -- were the result of a study done of delegates at political conventions, 1980, by Dr. Timothy Perper and myself.
Key words: Sex, Politic