CNN ridiculed over ‘hormonal voting’ report

CNN published, and then retracted, a news story which claimed that women’s votes were governed by their menstrual cycles, triggering criticism and lampooning.

The study made claims about how women tend to lean liberal when ovulating because they “feel sexier”. The story was based on an unpublished scientific study from researchers at the University of Texas, San Antonio that looked at the political tendencies of 275 women at various stages of their menstrual cycle.

The news piece stated that a woman’s voting behaviour was affected by whether she was ovulating on election day.