Constituents Ask Female Legislators to Do More

• In Event: Class, Gender and Legislative Behavior in Comparative Environments

Abstract

Female legislators introduce and pass more bills, and spend more time speaking on the floor. Different explanations have been suggested to explain why female legislators are more productive than their male colleagues. In this study we look at one potential mechanism – the signals constituents send to their representatives. In partnership with Republican and Democratic state legislators in multimember districts we conducted a field experiment where the politicians sent a survey to their constituents, asking about the issues they should work on; it was randomized whether each citizen was contacted by their male or female representative. We find that female legislators receive 14 percent more issue requests per constituent they contact than male legislators. The results hold for both Democratic and Republican politicians. Constituents are asking female legislators to do more.

Authors

• Daniel M. Butler, WUSTL

• Elin Naurin, University of Gothenburg

• Patrik Ohberg, The Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg