Fall Into the Gap

The gender gap is alive and well. The electorate favored President Bush over John Kerry by a three point margin (51 percent to 48 percent). But among men and women there exists a 7 point divide – 55 percent of men voted for Bush, while 48 percent of women supported him. Forty-four percent of men favored Kerry, while a majority of women (51 percent) voted for Kerry.3

(The above is from a memo put out by Lake Snell Perry & Associates who conducted their research based on exit polls from the recent election.)

I have a problem with this. Why is the country notably divided (though I will admit, it doesn't seem like a HUGE margin, though I guess it could be worse like 2000's 10 point margin) based on gender? Is it partially because George hates women? And so does Dick, in fact he hates his own daughter so much he condemns her simply because of who she loves. Is it partially because Republicans hate women? Is it partially because John Ashcroft not only hates American women but the Afghani's, Iraqui's and -what the heck, why not- Belgian's too?

Or is it because we live in a primarily patriarchal society?