Gender differences in Assessments of Party Leaders
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Gender differences in Assessments of Party Leaders. / Kosiara-Pedersen, Karina; Hansen, Kasper Møller.
In: Scandinavian Political Studies, Vol. 38, No. 1, 01.2015, p. 26-48.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in Assessments of Party Leaders
AU - Kosiara-Pedersen, Karina
AU - Hansen, Kasper Møller
PY - 2015/1
Y1 - 2015/1
N2 - Is there a relationship between party leader gender and voters' assessments? Yes, according to theses on gender identity and stereotyping. A voter survey during the 2011 Danish general election allows for a comprehensive analysis of a less likely case with four male and four female party leaders. Female party leaders are assessed more positively by female voters than male voters both in regard to general party leader sympathy and assessment of specific characteristics, whereas it is not the case that male party leaders are assessed more positively by male voters than female voters. The impact of gender does not increase with age, actually, the opposite is the case among men since younger male voters have smaller sympathy for female party leaders. Furthermore, there is no support for the expectation that voters with more education or with higher levels of political interest and knowledge are more positive towards party leaders of their own gender than voters with less education. Also, the relationship between gender and voters’ assessments is not stronger prior to the election campaign than immediately after the election. Hence, in sum, gender identity does not seem to require a higher level of political sophistication nor does it decrease with higher levels of information.
AB - Is there a relationship between party leader gender and voters' assessments? Yes, according to theses on gender identity and stereotyping. A voter survey during the 2011 Danish general election allows for a comprehensive analysis of a less likely case with four male and four female party leaders. Female party leaders are assessed more positively by female voters than male voters both in regard to general party leader sympathy and assessment of specific characteristics, whereas it is not the case that male party leaders are assessed more positively by male voters than female voters. The impact of gender does not increase with age, actually, the opposite is the case among men since younger male voters have smaller sympathy for female party leaders. Furthermore, there is no support for the expectation that voters with more education or with higher levels of political interest and knowledge are more positive towards party leaders of their own gender than voters with less education. Also, the relationship between gender and voters’ assessments is not stronger prior to the election campaign than immediately after the election. Hence, in sum, gender identity does not seem to require a higher level of political sophistication nor does it decrease with higher levels of information.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - party leders
KW - gender
KW - elections
KW - voters
U2 - 10.1111/1467-9477.12033
DO - 10.1111/1467-9477.12033
M3 - Journal article
VL - 38
SP - 26
EP - 48
JO - Scandinavian Political Studies
JF - Scandinavian Political Studies
SN - 0080-6757
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 122924647