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Parenthood and Political Engagement

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  • Daryna Grechyna

    (Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, University of Granada.)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of parenthood on political engagement using the longitudinal British survey data and a repeated cross-sectional European Social survey. I construct a political engagement measure by applying confirmatory factor analysis to observable indicators of several different aspects of political engagement. Then, I estimate the impact of becoming a parent on political engagement based on an event study around the birth of an individual’s first child, using UK data. The results indicate that having children reduces the political engagement of female parents but does not significantly affect the political engagement of male parents. The impact on women is temporary and disappears several years after the birth of their first child. The analysis of the impact of additional children on political engagement suggests that women’s political engagement is reduced by the fact of becoming a mother rather than by the number of children. The results are confirmed using repeated cross-sectional data for European regions, controlling for fixed regional characteristics. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Daryna Grechyna, 2022. "Parenthood and Political Engagement," ThE Papers 22/05, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    • Handle: RePEc:gra:wpaper:22/05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Subrat Sarangi & R. K. Renin Singh & Barun Kumar Thakur, 2023. "Interrelationship between Share of Women in Parliament and Gender and Development: A Critical Analysis," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, April.

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    Keywords

    parenting; children; political interests; political disenfranchisement; voter turnout; survey data;
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