Gender Inequality in Political Representation: A Worldwide Comparative Analysis

Abstract

We examine the determinants of cross-national variation in the share ofparliamentary seats held by women in 1998. Thefindings ofprior research on this issue have differed sharply. Studiesfocusing on the most affluent longstanding democracies have emphasized the importance of political factors, whereas three of the four studies to include less developed nationsfound that only socioeconomic and/or culturalfactors matter. Our analysis uses improved variable measures, a more complete set of variables, and a larger sample of countries than has heretofore been examined. We find that political, socioeconomic, and culturalfactors are each important. Specifically, electoral system structure, leftparty government, the timing of women's suffrage; the share of women in professional occupations, and cultural attitudes toward the role of women in politics each play a role in accountingfor variation in the degree ofgender inequality in political representation around the world.