QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

Quantitative Methods in the Social Science Research

Abstract

Although woMen appear to be less interested and less engaged in politics than Men, some evidence suggests that the presence of Women as candidates and office holders can help to stimulate political engagement among Women. Using data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), we investigate how the election of women in national legislatures influences women's political engagement and attitudes about the political process across 35 Countries. We find that sex Differences in political engagement as well as political attitudes are apparent in a large number of Countries. We find also that Female representation is positively associated with attitudes about the political process; however, these effects, while weak, are seen among bothmen and women.

Quantitative Methods in the Social Science Research

1. Introduction

Past research has shown that both institutional and cultural factors are related to women's representation (e.g. [Matland, 1998] and [Rule, 1987]). However, less is known about what effects, if any, such representation has on political engagement and attitudes about the political process. Although women appear to be less interested and less engaged in politics than men, some have suggested that the presence of women as candidates and office holders can help to stimulate political engagement among women. Studies within the U.S. context have found that the presence of Female candidates and representatives appears to increase women's political knowledge (Verba et al., 1997), political interest and engagement ([Atkeson, 2003] and [Hansen, 1997]), and political discussion (Campbell and Wolbrecht, 2006). In this paper, we use a cross-national approach to investigate how the election of women in national legislatures influences the political engagement and efficacy of women using data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES).

2. Women in the political arena

A number of studies have found that women are generally less interested ([Jennings and Niemi, 1981] and [Verba et al., 1995]) and less knowledgeable than men about politics (Delli Carpini and Keeter, 1996). While these studies have been focused on the U.S., similar Differences also have been found elsewhere ([Christy, 1987], [Inglehart, 1981] and [Inglehart and Norris, 2003]). Differential resources and lower levels of psychological involvement in politics helps to explain some of the sex differences in political activity, but there is no clear answer as to why women are less interested in politics than men. The gap between men and women in political interest remains even after controlling for socialization, resource and institutional explanations (Burns et al., 2001). In order to explain the remaining gap, some scholars have focused their attention on aspects of the political context that reflect the paucity of women in office and their subsequent invisibility in the political realm.

While the evidence is mixed regarding the impact of women seeking office, there may be a mobilization effect that follows from women holding positions of political power. The presence of female candidates suggests that women can compete for political power but the presence of women in elected bodies suggests that they play a role in decision making and are able to influence policy outcomes. In this way, women may come to see representative institutions as more responsive. Past studies provide evidence for this effect. Women feel better about government when more women are included in positions of power (Mansbridge, 1999). When women are better represented on municipal legislative bodies, women are likely to be more trusting of [local] government (Ulbig, 2005). They are also likely to feel better about their representatives in ...