Why Do Women Vote Radical Right? Benevolent Sexism, Representation and Inclusion in Four Countries

Abstract

Examines how gender, benevolent sexism, and the representational context shapes support for radical right parties (RRPs) in four countries: Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway. Employing the 8th wave of the European Social Survey (ESS), we find benevolent sexism is a key component of RRP support for men but not women. For men, it appears that sexist attitudes are at least partly a function of a more general orientation to outgroups. We also find that gender moderates the effects of immigration anxiety and authoritarian attitudes on an RRP vote. Finally, there is some evidence that the gender gap is largest where mainstream parties isolate an RRP and the gap is partly a function of the inability of RRPs to attract women with less progressive views on gender equality.