Mackenzie Taradalsky (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in American Government at Georgetown University and current manager of the Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Politics (GREP) Lab. Her research broadly examines political representation, public opinion, and how intersecting identities shape the experiences and evaluations of political elites in the United States. Mackenzie’s scholarship has appeared and is forthcoming in academic publications, including a book chapter with Oxford University Press. She is a recipient of the APSA Diversity Fellowship and a former Ronald E. McNair Scholar.
Project: Gender Expression and Voter Evaluation of Out Black Lesbian Political Candidates
How does gender expression shape voter evaluations of Black lesbian political candidates? While existing scholarship has examined candidate appearance and intersectional stereotyping, few experimental studies have explored how these dynamics function at the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity, race, and gender expression. This paper examines how variation in masculine and feminine presentation influences voter perceptions for an explicitly out Black lesbian candidate. Using an online survey experiment, respondents evaluate a hypothetical Black lesbian candidate whose gender expression varies across otherwise identical images. Drawing on Black queer feminist scholarship and intersectionality theory, the study tests how gender expression influences voter assessments of electability, leadership, competence, and other traits without assuming uniform advantages for gender-conforming or gender-nonconforming presentation. Preliminary findings highlight the complex role of gender expression in shaping electoral evaluations of Black lesbian candidates and contribute to broader debates about appearance, intersectional stereotyping, and political representation.