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Women in office: The impact of female politicians on gender-based violence reporting

Author

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  • Frisancho, Veronica
  • Pappa, Evi
  • Ramírez, Camila
  • Santantonio, Chiara

Abstract

Gender-based violence in the U.S. is a silent epidemic. Twenty percent of women experience rape, yet only one in three reports it. Using FBI data and a regression discontinuity design, we examine the impact of female U.S. House Representatives on reported rapes and intimate femicides. Our findings suggest an increase in reporting, rather than higher levels of violence. Our setting and additional analysis allow us to rule out policy channels. We argue that female politicians serve as role models, influencing reporting through symbolic and social pathways. Congressional speech data support this argument: female legislators advocate more against gender-based violence, and their speeches correlate with higher reporting in their districts.

Suggested Citation

  • Frisancho, Veronica & Pappa, Evi & Ramírez, Camila & Santantonio, Chiara, 2026. "Women in office: The impact of female politicians on gender-based violence reporting," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:93:y:2026:i:c:s0176268025001545
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102794
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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