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Voters prefer decisions made by panels balanced between men and women

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November 22, 2023

Voters prefer decisions made by panels balanced between men and women

Source: Electoral Reform Society

Men still dominate political decision-making in the United Kingdom. Women hold just one or two seats on prestigious select committees in the House of Commons, like Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Justice. No women sit on the Domestic and Economic Affairs cabinet committee. And 95% of all local councils have majority-men membership.

Yet voters do care about women’s leadership in elected office. My research shows that when women are absent from political decision-making, voters view governments as less legitimate.

Click here to read the full article published by the Electoral Reform Society on 21 November 2023.

Resource type
Author
Jennifer Piscopo
Publication year
2023
Focus areas

Men still dominate political decision-making in the United Kingdom. Women hold just one or two seats on prestigious select committees in the House of Commons, like Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Justice. No women sit on the Domestic and Economic Affairs cabinet committee. And 95% of all local councils have majority-men membership.

Yet voters do care about women’s leadership in elected office. My research shows that when women are absent from political decision-making, voters view governments as less legitimate.

Click here to read the full article published by the Electoral Reform Society on 21 November 2023.

Resource type
Author
Jennifer Piscopo
Publication year
2023
Focus areas