Gendered Perceptions of Leadership Roles in Legislatures

• In Event: Representation in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

The underrepresentation of women in chairperson roles within legislatures raises questions about potential biases among voters and legislators, who are responsible for electing these leaders. Prevailing societal norms often assign leadership positions to men, expecting women to assume more subordinate roles. This normative bias might allow female legislators to serve as vice chairpersons, yet hinder their advancement to chairperson positions. To explore this issue, we conducted a vignette experiment with voters and city council members across Japan. The findings reveal a notable perception gap: whereas voters generally align with traditional gender norms, viewing male council members as more suitable for chairperson roles and females for vice chairperson roles, the council members themselves believe female colleagues are equally or more suited for both positions. This discrepancy suggests that the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles is influenced by factors beyond the personal preferences and biases of council members.

Authors

• Hirofumi Miwa, Gakushuin University

• Yoshikuni Ono, Waseda University

• Yuya Endo, Waseda University