Public Opinion on Gender Issues: The Politics of Equity and Roles

Abstract

How do individuals form their opinions about gender issues? In this article, we draw upon work on public policy and the social organization of gender to provide a framework for thinking about the existing literature. We strive to illuminate the ways in which the literature's disagreements—about the conceptual scope of the field, about predispositions and policy views, and about theory and explanation—lay the groundwork for a conversation that will bring to light new aspects of the field and provide directions for future research.