The Age–Gender Gap in Party Preferences

• In Event: Demographic Divides in the Electorate

Abstract

This study examines widening gap – or polarization – in party preferences between younger and older citizens as well as between women and men. Research shows in contemporary democracies there is a divide between younger and older voters in terms of both value orientations and the party preferences they influence. Furthermore, investigating the “modern” gender voting gap is relevant, given that, in recent times, women are inclined to align more with left-leaning and progressive political options compared to men. We need, however, to account for the interaction between age and gender. Young women are more likely to support leftist and liberal parties, while young men should be more open to support rigtist and conservative parties. Among older voters, the gender gap should be smaller as women some decades ago tended to be more rightst and conservative. By analyzing the interplay between age and gender over time, this study will enhance our understanding of how and why shifts in political preferences evolve. However, it is important to differentiate between life cycle, generational, and period effects. In the empirical part, the age–gender gap in party preferences is examined within the multiparty context of Finland. Using a repeated cross-sectional design, the data consist of responses from six post-election surveys in Finland 2003–2023. The dependent variables are like-dislike evaluations of parties across the whole ideological range, from the liberal environmentalist Green League and eco-socialist Left Alliance to the nationalist-conservative Finns Party. Mixed-effects models, with individuals cross-classified into cohorts and election years, are used to control for generational and period effects.

Author

• Peter Söderlund, Åbo Akademi University