A Generation Without Political Gender Biases?

Abstract

AbstractIn the Sweden experiment, gender does not appear to be a relevant component of leadership templates, for either male or female participants. The only evidence of more favorable evaluations of men is with participants who did not state a preferred party, and then only for evaluations to be party leader or to win preference votes. Regarding policy areas, while men and women candidates are both evaluated as capable to handle masculine policies, women are evaluated more favorably than men for some stereotypically feminine policies. Party ideology, however, is important in how candidates are evaluated, and party effects are stronger than gender effects. These findings fit expectations as Swedish young people grew up in what is arguably one of the most gender equal political spheres in the world, and in a country with a long-time emphasis on social welfare programs.