Women Get the Job Done

Differences in Constituent Communication from Female and Male Lawmakers

Bibliographic Data

ID6354803
AuthorsNichole M Bauer (0000-0002-9797-7453, Louisiana State University, corresponding author), Ivy A M Cargile (0000-0002-6393-6020, California State University, Bakersfield)
Year2023
Volume19
Issue4
Pages1110-1133
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitics & Gender (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1743-923X • E-ISSN: 1743-9248
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1743923x23000259
OpenAlexW4378652058
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited102

This article advances and tests an original theory of a “feminine homestyle” to explain how female legislators develop relationships with constituents that both mitigate the potential for gendered biases and fulfill the communal goals that motivate women to run for political office. We use an original audit study that tests legislator responsiveness to direct email communication. We show that female lawmakers are more responsive to constituent communication and more likely to display compassion and empathy in responses compared with male legislators; but we also find important differences in women’s responsiveness across the race and ethnicity. Further, we find that responsive female lawmakers can change the behaviors of their male counterparts by creating stronger norms of responsiveness within legislative institutions. Our findings have important downstream implications for democratic accountability among voters and illustrate how female lawmakers substantively represent through direct communication with constituents

Accountability · Audit · Compassion · Democracy · Economics · Empathy · Ethnic group · Legislation · Legislator · Legislature · Political science · Politics · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Politics and Representation · Judicial and Constitutional Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · Accounting

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Open DOIOpen Access