Turning Engagement into Civic & Political Leadership among Young Women
A few weeks ago, CIRCLE Lead Researcher, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, presented at a White House gathering on Girls’ Leadership and Civic Education. Persistent gender gaps in public leadership prompt questions about how we educate, entertain and engage young people – especially women – in civic leadership roles.
Girls and young women are ahead of their male counterparts on many indicators of civic engagement, including volunteering, membership in community associations, and voting. Since 1992, for instance, young women have been more likely to vote in Presidential and Midterm Elections than young men.
However, despite higher levels of civic engagement, women are less likely to be political leaders (Rutgers). This could be for several reasons, as examined by CIRCLE Lead Researcher Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, at the White House.
Stay connected to CIRCLE this week for a new fact sheet on women, civic engagement and political leadership. Below are other CIRCLE resources related to gender and civic engagement among young people.
Below are analysis on how gender intersects with other demographic factors and civic engagement behaviors:
- Diverse Electorate: A deeper look into the Millennial Vote (2012)
- Do Gender and Ethnicity Affect Civic Engagement and Academic Progress? (2007)
- Analysis on Marital Status and Gender (2005)
Civic and Political Behaviors by Gender:
- Electoral Indicators: Voter Turnout Among Young Women and Men in the 2008 Presidential Election (2010)
- Electoral Indicators: Voter Registration Among Young People in 2008 (2010)
- Electoral Indicators: Young Voters in the 2008 Presidential Election (2008)
- Civic, Electoral, Political Indicators: Civic Engagement Among Young Men and Women (2007)
- Volunteering Indicators: Volunteering Among Young People (2007 – includes gender breakdowns)
It is important to create a pipeline for girls and young women to political leadership, because many are already engaged in community problem-solving and service, but they are not nearly as likely to see formal leadership roles.
