How Gender Gaps in Political Engagement Vary Across Generations

• In Event: Gender & Public Opinion

Abstract

Outside of the act of voting, women are typically less engaged in politics compared to men. But in looking at gender gaps at large, scholars can miss important heterogeneity in the size of gender gaps across different generations. Using data from two 2018 surveys, I show that the size and direction of gender gaps in political engagement varies across age cohorts. Among the oldest cohorts, women are less politically engaged than men. Among middle-aged cohorts, gender gaps are smaller in magnitude and often near zero. Among the youngest cohorts, gender gaps reverse, where young women report higher levels of political engagement than young men.

Using a moderated mediation approach, I then explore the origins of gender gaps across age cohorts. I consider how views about gender roles, resources, and socialization experiences encourage political engagement among younger cohorts of women and discourage political participation among older women. These results highlight how generational cohorts differentially contribute to observed gender gaps in political engagement.

Author

• Jennifer Wolak, Michigan State University