This working paper, authored by Dr Silvia Behrens from the WiSE Centre for Economic Justice, investigates how interest and confidence impact young people’s non-electoral political participation with a focus on gender differences.

Using an online survey of 948 young people in the UK, aged 16 to 24, the study examines the role of interest in politics, social issues, and internal efficacy on their non-electoral political engagement, i.e. engagement outside electoral activities.

Gender and Political Participation

The research reveals that while there is no significant gender difference in the average number of non-electoral activities, once active, female respondents tend to engage in more activities than their male counterparts. Women reported lower political interest compared to men but expressed higher interest in social issues. This suggests that women’s lower reported political interest might be due to the framing of politics as a masculine domain.

Internal Efficacy

Internal efficacy, defined as confidence in one’s ability to participate in politics, plays a crucial role in political engagement. The study found a gendered effect where young women’s non-electoral participation increased significantly with higher internal efficacy. In contrast, this relationship was less pronounced for young men. Despite engaging in fewer political activities initially, women showed greater involvement in lifestyle politics, such as ethical consumerism and dietary choices.

Non-electoral activities

The survey included questions on various non-electoral activities such as liking or sharing political content online, signing petitions, and participating in protests. Young women participated more in activities with a social or lifestyle dimension, whereas young men were slightly more engaged in online political content and activist groups.

The study underscores the need to re-evaluate how political interest is measured to include social issues, thus providing a more accurate reflection of women’s political engagement. Enhancing young women’s internal efficacy could bridge the gender gap in political participation. The findings highlight that addressing gender-specific barriers and perceptions can foster more inclusive political participation among young people.

These findings suggest practical steps for policymakers and educators to enhance civic education, focusing on building political confidence among young women. By addressing the gendered framing of politics and promoting inclusive definitions of political interest, efforts can be made to reduce the gender gap in political participation and ensure a more representative engagement in non-electoral political activities.

Background

The working paper was written by Dr Silvia Behrens. She used an online survey of 948 young people in the UK, aged 16 to 24, to examine the role of interest in politics, social issues, and internal efficacy on their political engagement outside electoral activities.

The WiSE Centre for Economic Justice aims to foster creative interdisciplinary initiatives which exploit new knowledge to inform public policy and create a just society in Scotland and internationally.