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How to Elect More Women: Gender and Candidate Success in a Field Experiment

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  • Christopher F. Karpowitz
  • J. Quin Monson
  • Jessica Robinson Preece

Abstract

Women are dramatically underrepresented in legislative bodies, and most scholars agree that the greatest limiting factor is the lack of female candidates (supply). However, voters’ subconscious biases (demand) may also play a role, particularly among conservatives. We designed an original field experiment to test whether messages from party leaders can affect women's electoral success. The experimental treatments involved messages from a state Republican Party chair to the leaders of 1,842 precinct‐level caucus meetings. We find that party leaders’ efforts to stoke both supply and demand (and especially both together) increase the number of women elected as delegates to the statewide nominating convention. We replicate this finding in a survey experiment with a national sample of validated Republican primary election voters (N = 2,897). Our results suggest that simple interventions from party leaders can affect the behavior of candidates and voters and ultimately lead to a substantial increase in women's descriptive representation.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher F. Karpowitz & J. Quin Monson & Jessica Robinson Preece, 2017. "How to Elect More Women: Gender and Candidate Success in a Field Experiment," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 61(4), pages 927-943, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:61:y:2017:i:4:p:927-943
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12300
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    Cited by:

    1. Baraldi, Anna Laura & Immordino, Giovanni & Stimolo, Marco, 2022. "Mafia wears out women in power: Evidence from italian municipalities," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 213-236.
    2. Mourelatos, Evangelos & Krimpas, George & Giotopoulos, Konstantinos, 2022. "Sexual identity and Gender Gap in Leadership. A political intention experiment," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1187, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Eric Beerbohm & Ryan Davis & Adam Kern, 2020. "The democratic limits of political experiments," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 19(4), pages 321-342, November.
    4. Chaudhry, Zain, 2020. "Mobilizing women voters in Pakistan," PEGNet Policy Briefs 19/2020, PEGNet - Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    5. Lassébie, Julie, 2020. "Gender quotas and the selection of local politicians: Evidence from French municipal elections," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    6. Christian R. Grose & Abby K. Wood, 2020. "Randomized experiments by government institutions and American political development," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 401-413, December.
    7. Davide Cipullo, 2021. "Gender Gaps in Political Careers: Evidence from Competitive Elections," CESifo Working Paper Series 9075, CESifo.

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