Policy Framing and the Intersection of Gender and Religion

• In Event: New Frontiers in Identity Politics

Abstract

The role and influence of religion in politics are increasingly prevalent worldwide shaping both policymaking and religious identity. Some research illustrates how women have benefitted from religious influence on policy. Yet, when narrower, more extreme interpretations of religious beliefs gain traction in the political sphere, women and other minoritized groups often face adverse effects from consequent restrictive policies and morality policing. How do women respond, then, to issue frames that prime concern about women’s discrimination, particularly in the sharia legal context? And under what conditions are they more or less favorable to restrictive policies? We test the effects of policy framing on political attitudes via an online survey experiment with a representative sample from Peninsular Malaysia. Using subnational bans on gambling as our vignette backdrop, respondents received one of four conditions that vary on sharia and gender discrimination frames. Our study examines attitudinal differences regarding “morality” regulations, religious influence on policymaking, and women’s political representation when the framing of a policy change varies. We also explore gender and religious subgroup dynamics along with attitudinal differences toward Islamism and traditional gender roles.

Authors

• Rachel Fisher, UC Berkeley

• Jessica Robinson Preece, Brigham Young University