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Do politics matter? Women in Swedish local elected assemblies 1970-2010 and gender equality in outcomes

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July 22, 2013

Do politics matter? Women in Swedish local elected assemblies 1970-2010 and gender equality in outcomes

In this paper, it is attempted to explain variations in gender equality at the subnational level in Sweden. Specifically, it is tested whether municipalities where a larger proportion of the seats in the local assembly have been held by women in the period 1970-2010 are more gender equal today.

The authors find that women in elected office contribute to improving the situation for women compared to men when it comes to income levels, full-time employment in the public sector, and distribution of parental leave among parents, even when controlling for party politics and modernization.

Resource type
Region
Author
Lena Wängnerud, Anders Sundell
Publisher
University of Gothenburg
Publication year
2010
In this paper, it is attempted to explain variations in gender equality at the subnational level in Sweden. Specifically, it is tested whether municipalities where a larger proportion of the seats in the local assembly have been held by women in the period 1970-2010 are more gender equal today.

The authors find that women in elected office contribute to improving the situation for women compared to men when it comes to income levels, full-time employment in the public sector, and distribution of parental leave among parents, even when controlling for party politics and modernization.

Resource type
Region
Author
Lena Wängnerud, Anders Sundell
Publisher
University of Gothenburg
Publication year
2010