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Do public attitudes on gender equality affect candidate selection in proportional representation systems? Evidence from European Parliament elections

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  • Thomas Däubler
  • Maarja Lühiste
  • Mihail Chiru

Abstract

A shift in public attitudes towards gender equality may explain improvements we have witnessed in women’s descriptive representation. However, existing studies rely on cross-sectional comparisons, likely beset with confounding problems. To examine the causal effect of public attitudes on candidate selection, we draw on data from more than 10,000 candidacies across four European Parliament elections (1999–2014). Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compare nomination decisions in countries with major attitude changes between elections to those in the control group. We find no evidence that shifts towards more egalitarian gender attitudes lead to an increase in women candidates, neither overall nor in subgroups by electoral system or socio-cultural party positions. The heterogeneity of effects across time and space appears to be a plausible explanation for our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Däubler & Maarja Lühiste & Mihail Chiru, 2025. "Do public attitudes on gender equality affect candidate selection in proportional representation systems? Evidence from European Parliament elections," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 45-65, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:26:y:2025:i:1:p:45-65
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165241299111
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Silje Synnøve Lyder Hermansen, 2025. "Lingering bias: The effects of legislated gender quotas on representation quality in the European Parliament," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 66-95, March.
    2. Jessica Fortin-Rittberger, 2025. "What is special about women in EU institutions?," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 185-202, March.
    3. Anna-Lena Högenauer, 2025. "Can the European Parliament be a stepping stone into national politics? The gendered career paths of Maltese and Luxembourgish members of the European Parliament," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 96-114, March.
    4. Elena Frech, 2025. "Gendered EUropean careers? Representation and the challenges in women's political careers," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 3-22, March.
    5. Pierre Alayrac & Sara Connolly & Miriam Hartlapp & Hussein Kassim, 2025. "Still struggling to reach the top? Women officeholders and gendered career pathways in the European commission," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 23-44, March.

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