Male politicians are judged less harshly than female ones, new study shows

Research at Durham University has highlighted clear discrepancies in the way male and female politicians are treated by voters. In a fictional campaign, a female candidate was judged more harshly for deviating from their party’s policy norms. Meanwhile, voters cut male candidates more slack when they were involved in an embezzlement scandal. In a fictional campaign, a female candidate was judged more harshly for deviating from their party’s policy norms. Meanwhile, voters cut male candidates more slack when they were involved in an embezzlement scandal. The result shows that women are held to ‘tighter and narrower’ standards, say the authors. The gender gap in politics remains far larger than in health, education and economic participation, and at current rates of progress, it will take another 162 years to close.