Which pattern describes the gender gap in issue priorities?

• A. Defense and security.
• B. Social welfare and education.
• C. Monetary policy.
• D. Trade.

Answer: (B)

This question is about how men and women differ in what issues they say should be top priorities. The pattern shows that women consistently place greater importance on social welfare concerns—things like education, healthcare, and programs that support families—than men do. That’s why social welfare and education is the best answer: it captures the area where the gender gap in issue salience is strongest and most reliable across surveys.

In contrast, defense and security tends to be prioritized more by men in many polls, and monetary policy or trade do not show as clear or consistent a gender gap as social welfare and education. So the correct pattern is that women rate social welfare and education as higher-priority issues than men, reflecting differences in issue salience shaped by socialization and experiences surrounding policy areas that affect daily life and families.