HPS³ - Gefjon Off - Who supports (opposes) gender equality policy, and can different policy framings make a difference?We welcome Gefjon Off on Thursday, 11 April 2024 to the HPS Seminar Series

11 April 2024, 5:15 pm

The Hamburg Political Science Seminar Series (HPS³) features international speakers presenting cutting-edge research in empirical political science and political economy.

We welcome on Thursday, 11 April 2024 17:15-18:45 CET in VMP9 B130

Gefjon Off (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg)

Title:  Who supports (opposes) gender equality policy, and can different policy framings make a difference?​
(Authors: Amy Alexander, Nicholas Charron & Gefjon Off)​
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Abstract:​
Who supports gender equality policy, and how does this support depend on the framing of the policy? Different gender equality policies are currently politicized in various democracies. We fielded two vignette experiments across 27 EU countries to test who is most (least) likely to support two hypothetical gender equality policies: Gender quotas in politics, and school reforms for less gender-stereotypical teaching. Applying realistic threat theory to the case of gender equality, we manipulate whether the policies are described as: a) promoting material or symbolic gender equality, and b) benefiting only women/ girls or everyone. Our results show that, first, gender differences in policy support are larger for gender quotas than for school reforms. Second, gender differences in policy support are generally the largest among the young generation, and young men are more deterred by gender quotas than by school reforms. Third, respondents generally prefer gender equality policies with material, rather than symbolic, benefits. Finally, preferences for policies with different beneficiaries (women/ girls vs. everyone/ all students) are age- and policy-specific. Our findings suggest that different gender equality policies yield different patterns of support in the population. The paper carries implications for the application of group threat theory beyond its typical application to immigration, and the study of gender equality attitudes and policy support. ​

 Keywords: gender equality, policy support, survey experiments, young men​

The HPS³ seminars take place  in person at the UHH. Please find the preliminary program on the HPS³ Website.

We invite everyone interested to attend the HPS Seminar Series and are looking forward to seeing you.