Abstract
AbstractFemale representation in political decision-making positions is now a salient issue in public discussions throughout Europe. Understanding public attitudes towards a more balanced gender distribution in politics remains limited, however. Using a 2017 Eurobarometer, we focus on cross-national differences in public support for increased female participation in politics to address this limitation. Building on the policy feedbacks literature, we stress the role of gender quotas. We argue that quotas – as legislative devices usually adopted through elite-driven initiatives – stimulate support for stronger female representation. Ensuing debates on quotas raise individual awareness about the underrepresentation of women – informational effect – and, once adopted, give a clear signal that persistent gender imbalance is a social problem to be redressed – normative effect. Our empirical analysis supports this argument. Citizens in countries with gender quotas display stronger support for increased female participation in politics.
Highlights
Women are underrepresented in politics in most European countries
We argue that gender quotas in politics explain the cross-national variation of attitudes towards the number of women in political office
As noted in the Introduction section, we focus on this item because it is unambiguous and goes to the heart of the ongoing, cross-national debate on gender balance in formal political representation
Summary
Women are underrepresented in politics in most European countries. On average, in the 28 countries that were members of the EU in 2016, only 26% of lower/single house members of national parliaments and 27% of senior, national government ministers, respectively, were women (European Commission, 2018). Fernández and Celia Valiente because attitudes (together with other factors) are commonly predictors of political preferences and behaviours (Lizotte, 2018) Those who think more women ought to be in politics are more supportive of female political candidates (with their money, time and/or vote) than those who think otherwise (Dolan, 2010: 70). Quotas raise awareness about the underrepresentation of women in politics (informational effect) independent from achieving increases in women’s representation. Once adopted, they send a clear signal that a persistent imbalance is a social problem that exists and must be redressed (normative effect). Citizens living in countries that already possess quotas are more likely to support increases in the number of women in politics than citizens in countries without gender quotas
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