The participation gap: systemic and individual influences on gender differences in political participation

How does gender affect political participation in Latin America?

By: Desposato, SW & Norrander B
Published by: Latinobarómetro Corporation, 2005
Via: Eldis

This paper examines the relationship between gender and participation and public opinion in seventeen Latin American countries. In particular, it explores the way historical and institutional frameworks of each country shape gender's role in politics.

The authors argue that while a substantial literature explores gender differences in participation in the United States and Europe, little attention has been given to gender's impact on participation in Latin America. Democratic theory is grounded in the idea that citizens influence the government through elections and other forms of political participation. Empirical research confirms that differentials in participation translate directly into differential policy outcomes

Key findings include:

• conventional forms of participation increase with education, employment status, socioeconomic status, religiosity, and age
• the impact of education on participation is greater for women than men
• the impact of age on participation is much smaller for women than men, as women in previous generations in most Latin American countries faced restrictions on political participation and strong conservative social norms which discouraged participation
• results suggest that equal political participation for women will require both equalising access to education and professional opportunities, and providing a political environment that includes civil rights.

(http://www.latinobarometro.org/fileadmin/documentos/articulos_y_documentos
/The_Participation_Gap.pdf)