Gender Dynamics in Political Leadership: The Impact of Female Party Leaders on Ideological Perceptions

This thesis investigates the impact of female party leadership on the perceived ideological positioning of political parties, addressing two key research questions: first, how the gender of a party leader influences voters’ perceptions of the party’s ideological stance; and second, how voters’ perceptions and expert assessments respond to leadership changes involving a transition from male to female leaders. Using original datasets documenting party leaders’ gender identities and leadership transitions across multiple countries, the study reveals significant findings.
For left-wing parties, the presence of a female leader does not significantly affect the perceived ideological stance of the party. However, for right-wing parties, a female leader is associated with a notable shift in public perception of the party’s ideology further to the right–contrary to stereotypes portraying women as more progressive. Additionally, the thesis uncovers an unexpected rightward shift in expert assessments following transitions from male to female leadership in right-wing parties. This counterintuitive finding diverges from existing literature and suggests complexities in how gendered leadership changes influence expert positions. Voter assessments, by contrast, appear largely unaffected by such transitions.
These findings illuminate the multifaceted ways in which gender dynamics shape public and expert perceptions of political parties, challenging traditional assumptions and contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between gender, leadership, and political ideology. This research offers valuable insights for scholars in political science and gender studies alike.