Last August, this diary -- Daily Kos Demographics: White. Over 50. Well Off. Male. -- was intended as both a reality check and a challenge to this site to better represent the reality of both US population demographics and the base of the Democratic Party.
At that time, according to data collected by Quantcast, the Daily Kos audience was overwhemlingly white (93%), well-educated (80% college grads and more) and affluent (37% make >$100k) and disproportionately older (53% >50) and male (64%) when compared the demographics of Internet Users.
So what has changed in terms of race class gender and representation at the new "improved" DK4??
Well, Nothing.
Despite much gnashing of teeth in 2200+ comments last time around, this data is oh yes indeed consistent with other indicators that demonstrate that Daily Kos demographics are also out of sych with on-line activist demographics; other sources include polls, surveys, and critiques of the older white maleness of Netroots Nation.
And yes Quantcast data is regularly to gauge site traffic and advertiser appeal..
In fact, rather than increasing demographic diversity since these issues were raised years ago, the opposite seems to be occurring. Despite the demographics of the front page, despite the presence of community diary series and now "groups" such as Black Kos, Kosability, Criminal InJustice Kos, and strong representation from Native American Netroots, DK readership is as white rich and male as ever. Those who have followed Quantcast Reports will note, for example, that African American readership has declined from a high of 9% to 4% over the past 2 years.
In fact , since last August, SistahSpeak, SheKos, and GLBT and Friends at Daily Kos, are gone along with several prominent posters associated with the same. And the most recent data shows the demographics to be even more male, more well off and even more exceedingly well educated.
Let's be clear -- this is a rarified readership
So what, you say??
Well for one, anyone interested in influencing politics might be more attentive to both US population demographics and the Democratic Party base.
A reminder ---
US POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
US Census Bureau QuickFacts
Population, 2009 estimate 307,006,550
AGE
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2009 6.9%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2009 24.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2009 12.9%
Median age 36.7 years
GENDER
Female persons, percent, 2009 50.7%
RACE/ETHNICITY
White persons, percent, 2009 (a) 79.6%
Black persons, percent, 2009 (a) 12.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2009 (a) 1.0%
Asian persons, percent, 2009 (a) 4.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2009 (a) 0.2%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2009 1.7%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2009 (b) 15.8%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2009 65.1%
NATIONALIITY/LANGUAGE
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 11.1%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 17.9%
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 24.4%
DISABILITY
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 49,746,248
INCOME
Median household income, 2008 $52,029
Persons making more than $120,000 annually 17%
Persona making more than $200,000 annually 2.5%
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 13.2%
Worst still for a site aiming to influence Democratic policy and politics is this -- Older affluent highly educated white men are NOT the Democratic Party voter base.
Where are the voices and visions of those who have long made up the unswerving mainstay of the Democratic Party -- African Americans, the poor and the unionized working class, women, Latino/as, the young??
Still Not Here.
Here is the Democratic Base and it is Missing In Action at Daily Kos. The data for the 2008 is also consistent with well established party line voting patterns across the noted groups.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE 2008
BLACK AMERICANS
95% of black voters went to the ballot for Obama and only 4% for McCain.
Obama has succeeded in mobilizing African-American voters who, although strongly Democratic, have in the past been apathetic in turning out to vote.
WHITES
55% of white votes went to McCain including the notoriously hard-to-win white working class vote, but Obama stunned many by taking an impressive 43% of total white votes, cutting the Republican lead compared with 2004.
LATINO/A
66% of Hispanic voters turned out for Obama - the best ever result for a Democrat. McCain only took 31% of the Hispanic vote, despite courting them heavily in his campaign.
ASIAN AMERICANS
63% of Asian voters went to the ballot for Obama and 34% for McCain.
WOMEN
56% of the female vote went to Obama, exceeding the usual Democrat advantage. It should be noted that while Obama won the female vote overall, he lost the battle over white women by 7 points.
UNDER- 30's
66% of under-30's showed their support for Obama - far higher than in any previous election - compared to 31% for McCain.
A staggering 54% of young white voters also went for Obama.
Overall, this also helped Obama secure a high number of first time voters; 71% of whom voted Democrat.
Secondly, yes, there is this . Still.
It is time and long past time for other voices -- Black Brown Young Female - to be afforded more credence in evaluating policies and current political trends, to be better represented, and yes to be actually heard here.
Perhaps these out of sync site demographics also play a central role in the tone and tenor of discussion here related to multiple differences. Yes, there are a multitude of allies, but there also is too often, the wanton disrespect for a diversity of perspectives exhibited here.
The white privilege. The denial.
The uprating and endorsing of racist frauds. The uprating and subsequent white - washing of racist hate.
The trolling of race - themed diaries. The sheer, blatant intolerance of non-white, non-male voices here.
Irrespective of intent, discourse that is perceived as racist, sexist, heterosexist, or ableist has a real impact -- not only on the lives of people, but ultimately on the success or failure of a progressive agenda.
We have to do better than this people.. By the numbers and by the tone.
One more time -- Represent or Become Irrelevant.