TY - UNPB

T1 - The gender of party leadership and its impact on voter's asessment

AU - Kosiara-Pedersen, Karina

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Even though most political parties are still male dominated, an increasing number of women reach the top position of party leader. Furthermore, party leadership is increasingly regarded as an important part of party images due to the personalization of politics. Does the gender of the party leader have an impact? On the basis of a survey among the Danish electorate, this paper analyzes to what extent men and women differ in their party leader sympathy. First, the analysis of the degree of party leader sympathy shows that women are more sympathetic towards woman party leaders than men are. However, men are not more sympathetic towards man party leaders than women. Second, the analysis of the content of party leader sympathy seems to show that men and women do not differ in the characteristics correlated with party leader sympathy. Hence, there seems to be no gender difference in the party leader characteristics appreciated by men and women. If this holds, the gender of party leadership matters to women because they value woman party leaders higher, not because they value other characteristics than men.

AB - Even though most political parties are still male dominated, an increasing number of women reach the top position of party leader. Furthermore, party leadership is increasingly regarded as an important part of party images due to the personalization of politics. Does the gender of the party leader have an impact? On the basis of a survey among the Danish electorate, this paper analyzes to what extent men and women differ in their party leader sympathy. First, the analysis of the degree of party leader sympathy shows that women are more sympathetic towards woman party leaders than men are. However, men are not more sympathetic towards man party leaders than women. Second, the analysis of the content of party leader sympathy seems to show that men and women do not differ in the characteristics correlated with party leader sympathy. Hence, there seems to be no gender difference in the party leader characteristics appreciated by men and women. If this holds, the gender of party leadership matters to women because they value woman party leaders higher, not because they value other characteristics than men.

M3 - Working paper

BT - The gender of party leadership and its impact on voter's asessment

PB - Center for Valg og Partier, Institut for Statskundskab, Københavns Universitet

CY - Kbh.

ER -