Are Voters Biased Against Female Politicians?
Over the centuries, women have been underrepresented in politics due to gender bias and sexism. Despite making significant advances over the years, women are still vastly outnumbered in public office and politics worldwide. Though there are various theories explaining this phenomenon, recent studies suggest that gender bias might be the root cause of the decrease in female participation in politics. This article will explore the issue by looking at evidence of gender bias from past and recent elections, the implications of this behavior, and potential solutions for increasing the representation of female politicians.
The Evidence of Gender Bias in Politics
Voter bias against female politicians is nothing new. Since the first major waves of female suffrage began at the start of the 20th century, city, state, and national governments have seen an overall lack of female participation. Women make up more than half of the population in most countries, but the number of women elected to office is disproportionally low.
One of the most concrete examples of voter bias against female politicians is a study done by Susan J. Carroll of Rutgers University in 2000. The study looked at the success of 4,000 male and female candidates running for state legislature between 1978 and 1992. It found that although female candidates had similar levels of overall success in their races than their male counterparts, female politicians were more likely to lose the support of voters during the final run-up to the election.
More recent studies have shown that gender bias is still a major issue. In 2016, the Atlantic published an article detailing how voters favor gender neutral traits in male candidates over their female counterparts. The article cited a University of Chicago study that found that “both Republican and Democratic voters rewarded male candidates with traits such as ‘strong leader’ or ‘tough’ much more than they rewarded female candidates with the same traits.” Likewise, a different study conducted by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance showed that female candidates running for office face significant “conventionality penalties”. That is, voters are more likely to see traditional gender roles as qualifications for male politicians, while they are seen as liabilities for female candidates.
The Implications of Gender Bias Against Female Politicians
The gender bias exhibited by voters in the political arena has far-reaching implications. For starters, it means that women are less likely to be cast into roles of power, which can lead to a cultural shift where women’s voices are once again relegated to the sidelines. This can perpetuate a cycle of inequality, where women are unable to fight for their own rights and interests in political debates.
Furthermore, the gender bias exhibited by voters can cause women to doubt their own capabilities and potential to run for office. In a study conducted by the American Politics and Gender Lab at Stanford University, researchers found that when female candidates for office believe they might lose due to gender-based bias, they become less likely to aim for higher office in the future.
Finally, there is the economic cost of gender bias. According to the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, a study on the economic costs of gender bias found that “when qualified women are blocked from holding powerful positions of influence, entire economies suffer a real financial cost”. This cost can be measured in terms of decreased productivity, missed business opportunities, and unequal access to the economic rewards of public office.
Potential Solutions to Promote Female Political Representation
Luckily, there are a number of actions that can be taken to combat gender bias and increase the number of women in politics.
Reducing the Presence of Negative Stereotypes: One way to start combating gender bias is to reduce the presence of negative gender stereotypes. This can include challenging media portrayals of female politicians and taking the time to educate others on female candidates and the issues they support.
Creating a Pathway to Political Leadership: To ensure that more women are able to reach positions of influence, society must create a pathway to political leadership. This can include offering more mentorship, sponsorship, and training programs that give women the resources and connections they need to seek out positions of power.
Improving Gender Representation Policies: Finally, governments and other organizations must create and implement laws and policies that guarantee a certain level of female representation in government and other positions of power. This could include introducing gender quotas for senior-level positions or offering tax breaks and other incentives to female-run organizations.
Voter bias against female politicians is a critical problem, one with far-reaching implications for the political and economic arenas. For too long, gender bias has been seen as an unchangeable truth of politics, yet recent studies suggest that active steps can be taken to promote female representation. If society is to see positive change, it must start by addressing the root causes of gender bias and promoting policies that ensure a level-playing field for female candidates. Only then will we begin to see an increase in female representation in public office.