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When Women Win: Can Female Representation Decrease Gender-Based Violence?

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

Abstract

Every day, three women are murdered in the United States by a current or former partner. Yet policy action to prevent gender-based violence has been limited. Previous studies have highlighted the effect of female political representation on crimes against women in the developing world. This paper investigates whether the election of a female politician reduces the incidence of gender-based violence in the United States. Using a regression discontinuity design on mixed-gender races, we find that the election of a female House Representative leads to a short-lived decline in the prevalence of femicides in her electoral district. The drop in femicides is mainly driven by a deterrence effect that results from higher police responsiveness and effort in solving gender-related crimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Frisancho, Veronica & Pappa, Evi & Santantonio, Chiara, 2022. "When Women Win: Can Female Representation Decrease Gender-Based Violence?," CEPR Discussion Papers 17598, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:17598
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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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