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Department of Economics Brown Bag with Dr Margherita Negri Backlash in the Backyard: Female Representation and Gender Attitudes in the UK
Abstract: We study how increased female representation in politics affects gender attitudes in the United Kingdom. Our analysis combines local election results in England between 2002 and 2019 with survey data from Understanding Society and the British Household Panel Survey. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design on mixed-gender electoral races, we find that the election of a female councilor leads to a shift towards more conservative gender attitudes among the adult population. This backlash effect is entirely driven by men, and is particularly pronounced among individuals facing greater economic insecurity — such as the unemployed, those more exposed to import competition from China and those more affected by austerity reforms. By contrast, effects on women are limited, though we find that the election of a female councilor increases their support for work-family reconciliation policies. Importantly, given the institutional context of local councils in England, our results are unlikely to be explained by gender differences in policymaking. Further analysis suggests that these effects are concentrated on attitudes related to the private sphere, rather than broader views about gender roles in society.