Partisan cues shape perceptions of 'woke'

Study finds partisan cues shape perceptions of 'woke,' with Republicans associating Democratic items and female politicians with wokeness.

Why it matters

  • The term "woke," originally tied to racial justice, has broadened to include progressive causes and identities.
  • Partisanship influences what people consider "woke," affecting political discourse and perceptions.

By the numbers

  • 1,126 participants took part in the study.
  • Over 11,000 individual responses were collected.
  • Certain items like Democratic Party identifiers and Black Lives Matter were broadly seen as "woke."

The big picture

  • The term "woke" has evolved and is now used broadly, often as a pejorative by conservatives.
  • Republicans associate Democratic items and female politicians with "wokeness" more than Democrats do.
  • Independents have mixed views, borrowing from both partisan frameworks.

What they're saying

  • Some commenters criticize Republicans for their views on "wokeness."
  • Others find it amusing that certain politicians are seen as "woke."

Caveats

  • The study used a forced-choice design, which may not reflect real-world thinking.
  • Future studies could explore more open-ended approaches to understanding the term "woke."

What’s next

  • Further research could delve deeper into how people define "woke" in different contexts.