Abstract

This work provides a historical analysis of the Christian evangelical community in the United States and the way in which this community has divided itself politically through disagreements on issues of gender hierarchy and political representation. American evangelicals have been separated into groups generally referred to as the evangelical left and evangelical right, each of these communities has political goals and mainstream involvement in the politics of the United States. With faith becoming an increasingly centralized part of the political sphere in the United States, a nation that is technically secular due to separation of church and state philosophy, it is critical to provide an analysis on how these communities have established themselves so strongly in politics and with what motivations. I believe that gender roles, gender hierarchy and household values surrounding family and interpretations of womanhood all establish themselves as influential vessels through with evangelicalism has established a political motivation, on both sides of the isle. Through my work I hope to establish a clear connection between interpretations of gender hierarchy and gender egalitarian attitudes in evangelical communities and the way they have mobilized in American politics. This should provide key insights on the way gender has become a predominant politicized issue today with causes like abortion, LGBTQ rights, feminist issues and more begin spoken on through the perspective of Christian religious communities.

Advisor

Kim, Sekwen

Department

Political Science

Disciplines

Christian Denominations and Sects | Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Public Affairs | Women's Studies

Keywords

Evangelical, Christianity, Feminism, Authoritarianism, Gender Studies, Political Polarization, Political Extremism, Voter Behavior

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2026 Lauren R. Riley