Risk and the gender gap in internal political efficacy in Europe

Abstract

This study confirms the existence of a substantial gender gap in internal political efficacy in contemporary European democracies with survey evidence from the ESS08 and 09 waves. This gap is rooted in gendered patterns of socialisation according to which men are more likely than women to be socialised in ways that emphasise psychological traits such as assertiveness, predisposition to risk, competition, or self-promotion. Findings show that those who perceive themselves as ready to take risks are more likely to feel able to play an active role in politics. Using mediation analysis, this article shows that part of the gender gap in internal political efficacy is a result of the lower inclination of women to take risks in comparison to men. These findings confirm the masculine character of the political realm. A realm that is often perceived by citizens to be more in line with gender stereotypes about men.

Testing Public Reactions to Mass-Protest Hybrid Media Events

“…These actors were particularly relatable for women, and exposure to their actions and testimonies not only encouraged women to engage in conversations but also vicariously stimulated feelings of self-efficacy. This finding speaks to the literature on the determinants of internal political efficacy (Fraile and de Miguel 2021), confirming what others have found on the visibilization of ordinary, relatable, citizens in the streets (Valentim 2021) or on social media (Ardèvol-Abreu, Diehl, and Gil de Zúñiga 2019).…”

Marginalisation and Engagement: Exploring Political Knowledge and Self-Competence Beliefs in Neglected Areas

“…Similar to political knowledge, research reveals a gender gap in political efficacy (Fraile & de Miguel, 2021;Wolak, 2020). Previous studies indicate that this gap is associated with socioeconomic factors such as education, income, and workforce participation (Gidengil et al, 2008).…”

Whose bread I eat, their song I sing? How the gender of MPs influences the use of oversight mechanisms in government and opposition

“…While application in Political Science is scarce, Verge et al (2015) suggest that voters' political decisions indeed follow a similar pattern: women more frequently oppose proposals for constitutional modifications that would lead to a major re-structuring of the state because they fear the risk of uncertain change to the status quo-a concern the authors observe less frequently for men. Fraile and de Miguel Moyer (2021) show that sex differences in risk aversion also cause variation in political efficaciousness. Furthermore, studies on gender and corruption argue that women's presence in parliaments reduces corruption at the national level due to women's higher risk aversion, thereby suggesting that gender differences on this personality trait persist even within the selected group of MPs (Swamy et al, 2001;Esarey and Chirillo, 2013).…”