Gender Gaps in Political Participation in Asia

• In Event: Gender and Political Representation in Asia

Abstract

Gender gaps in political participation have long existed. Recent scholarship shows that the gap has diminished in certain modes of political actions, particularly in western and post-industrial societies. However, the unknown is how gender makes a difference for political participation in Asia. Using the 2010 Asian Barometer Survey, this paper analyzes the gender gap in multiple forms of political participation in 13 East and Southeast Asia. It also investigates how individual-level characteristics mediate the differences in men’s and women’s propensities to participate politically and these differences vary across countries. The analysis shows that men and women vote in national elections at an equal rate in all Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, except Malaysia. It also finds that gender gaps are apparent in other forms of political participation in most of ESA. Some of these gaps can also be explained by socioeconomic resources, political attitudes, and religion, suggesting that women in the region remain in a marginalized position. This study shows how some gaps in some countries may be mediated by the conventional explanations of gender gaps while others in other countries may not. Therefore, it provides implications for ways in which gender equality in political participation can be improved for certain forms of political actions in certain contexts – particularly through the advancement of women’s resources and political attitudes.

Author

• Shan-Jan Sarah Liu, University of Edinburgh