The Gendered Effects of Electoral Institutions: Political Engagement and Participation
The Gendered Effects of Electoral Institutions: Political Engagement and Participation
producing stronger and more representative democracies. Cultural, socioeconomic, and political factors explain some of the gender gaps in political involvement, but not all of them. In this book, the authors argue that electoral institutions attenuate gender gaps in mass political engagement and
participation by drawing women, an 'undertapped' constituency, into the democratic process. Using cross-national and country-specific analyses, the authors show that electoral institutions play a complementary and significant role in reducing gender gaps in political involvement. The cross-national
analyses draw on comparative survey data from a wide range and large number of countries. The case studies draw out the processes underlying changes in political attitudes and behaviors with evidence from four country studies: New Zealand, Russia, France, and Uruguay. All four countries have altered
their electoral institutions, either through large-scale reform of the electoral system itself or adopting gender quotas, allowing the authors to examine patterns of political involvement pre- and post-reform. The book finds that inclusive electoral systems that produce more proportional electoral
outcomes have larger effects on women's political engagement and participation than on men's. Gender quotas also mediate women's engagement and participation, but to a lesser degree. On the whole, the book concludes that electoral rules designed to promote social inclusion in parliament are critical
for promoting social group inclusion among the electorate. Comparative Politics is a series for students, teachers, and researchers of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in
association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The Comparative Politics Series is edited by Professor David M. Farrell, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin, Kenneth Carty, Professor of Political
Science, University of British Columbia, and Professor Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Institute of Political Science, Philipps University, Marburg.
Author: Miki Caul Kittilson, Leslie A. Schwindt-Bayer
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 12/14/2012
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.10w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780199608607
About the Author
Miki Caul Kittilson's research focuses on political parties, political behaviour, and women in politics in a comparative perspective. She had published articles in such journals as American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics, Party Politics, International Organization, and Politics & Gender. In 2006, she published her first book, Challenging Parties, Changing Parliaments: Women in Elected Office in Contemporary Western Europe in the Parliaments and Legislatures Series with the Ohio State University Press. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University.
This title is not returnable