Gender Equality and Democracy

TLDR

Democratic institutions predate gender equality, but contemporary emphasis on gender equality is now a key driver of democratization, reflecting a broader cultural shift that increasingly demands democratic governance. The study examines how shifting mass attitudes toward gender equality influence the diffusion of democratic institutions across 70 societies representing 80 % of the global population. The authors analyze survey data from 70 societies covering 80 % of the world population to assess the relationship between mass attitudes and democratic spread. The evidence shows that modernization drives cultural change that promotes both women's public participation and democratic development.

Abstract

Abstract Although democratic institutions existed long before gender equality, at this point in history, growing emphasis on gender equality is a central component of the process of democratization. Support for gender equality is not just a consequence of democratization. It is part of a broad cultural change that is transforming industrialized societies and bringing growing mass demands for increasingly democratic institutions. This article analyzes the role of changing mass attitudes in the spread of democratic institutions, using survey evidence from 70 societies containing 80 percent of the world's population. The evidence supports the conclusion that the process of modernization drives cultural change that encourage both the rise of women in public life, and the development of democratic institutions.