Longitudinal Effects of Stereotypical Media Portrayals of Kamala Harris on Black Women’s Political Engagement

The 2024 presidential election marked a historic moment as Kamala Harris became the first Black woman nominated by a major party for president. Her candidacy triggered widespread media coverage that frequently invoked racialized and gendered stereotypes, creating a context to examine how representations of Black women political leaders affect Black women voters. This longitudinal study uses four-wave survey data from Black women collected before, during, and after the election to examine how exposure to stereotypical media portrayals of Harris shapes political attitudes and behaviors over time. This project will help advance theoretical understanding of how negative exemplar experiences shape marginalized group members' political engagement, with implications for sustaining democratic participation among Black women—a constituency showing growing dissatisfaction despite exceptional civic engagement.