In case you have been living on another planet or under a rock for the past 12 months, Lilith is letting you know that gender is playing a huuuuge role in the upcoming U.S. presidential election and in the complicated run-up to November’s voting. There has been much discussion about women candidates and the reactions of women voters, to say nothing of the women-baiting and often frightening anti-feminist rhetoric by some partisans.

Enter some facts, offered up by Presidential Gender Watch. Hillary Clinton has become the first woman to win a presidential primary in 28 states. But the role of gender in the 2016 presidential race is not limited to the success of women as candidates. Gender informs electoral behavior of women and men as candidates and voters, influences media coverage, and is a key factor in policy debates. As we move on to the next phase of the presidential race, gender will continue to shape campaign dynamics in myriad ways. 

Presidential Gender Watch (PGW), a project of the nonpartisan Center for American Women and Politics and the Barbara Lee Family Foundation to track, analyze, and illuminate gender dynamics in the 2016 presidential election, draws upon the research and expertise of both partner organizations, as well as other experts, to further public understanding of how gender influences candidate strategy, voter engagement and expectations, media coverage, and electoral outcomes in the race for the nation’s highest executive office. 

Their goal is to lend expert analysis to the dialogue around gender throughout the election season. PGW offers information about every woman who has run for president, and the “Women’s Vote Watch” page on their website offers gender-specific exit polling. Fasten your seatbelts.