Gender Roles and Inequalities in Political Participation: Results from an Eight-Nation Study:

摘要: r -WO RECENT cross-national studies found that equality in political participation between men and women was far from being an accomplished fact many countries (Barnes, Kaase et al. 1979; Verba, Nie, Kim 1978). Nor the disparity simply a consequence of making comparisons fully developed versus less countries. Moreover, range rather staggering even within Western Both normative empirical theory demand explanation for these results. From perspective question is why whether inequalities what presumably key function representative democracies should be vitally affected by sheer accident birth. Subsequent questions have to do with consequences solutions phenomenon. Empirically, how come about, are they maintained, sources variation? Attempts account activity among employed three major hypotheses or sets explanatory factors (Dowse Hughes 1971; Orum 1974; Welch 1980). The situational looks contemporary characteristics woman's life space. Such roles as wife, mother, divorcee, widow, homemaker said one way another inhibit participation. These held confining isolating roles, not permit easy access such resources time, money, contacts, organizational life, channels communication, general skill levels typically accompany high rates action. Even when break out traditional it argued must continue carry along new ones, thus imposing dampening effect. structural tends stretch further back history individual include societal institutions. It institutions domains education, economy, law configured deny same opportunities, benefits, protection accorded (e.g., Krauss 1974). result occupy niches conducive robust activity. For example, advanced education than certainly often acquire qualitatively different years schooling equivalent. female occupa-