Melanee Thomas (University of Calgary) to speak at the Gender and Politics Research group
Gender and Psychological Orientations to Politics
Melanee Thomas (University of Calgary) Gender and Psychological Orientations to Politics
Monday 18th February, 2pm-3:30pm, Paul Hirst Seminar Room, 10 Gower Street.
This event is free – no registration – all welcome – for more information please contact Rosie Campbell
Since the 1950s, women’s lives have changed dramatically in established democracies, but the gender gaps in political interest and subjective political competence have not. This is problematic, as these psychological orientations to politics play a key role in democratic functioning. The conventional explanations found in the political science literature suggest that women’s enhanced levels of socioeconomic resources, as well as changing gender roles and feminist socialization, should have narrowed and closed these gaps over time. And yet, throughout the post-industrial world, these gaps persist. This project tests these two conventional explanations, as well as several alternative explanations, to account for why these gaps persist both now and in the past.