Unequal Distribution or Unequal Effect? Explaining the Gender Gap in Candidates‘ Electoral Success

Descriptive parliamentary representation might not constitute a necessary condition for the working of democracy but clearly is a desirable goal in modern societies. In terms of gender, as of today, this goal is more or less never achieved – even though several studies have shown that higher numbers of female MPs produce positive outcomes for political processes as well as societies at large. The reasons behind this gender gap are manifold – ranging from traditionalist role orientations to party gatekeepers influencing candidate nomination or discriminating electoral behavior by voters. At the same time, scientific studies regarding the gender gap are far from conclusive. This paper looks at how candidate qualities – understood very broadly including aspects like campaign resources or political experience – might explain the gender gap in candidates‘ electoral success. Using candidate survey data from three national elections in Germany (2009 – 2017) and linking this information to data from the German Election Officer, we investigate whether differences in outcome are due to unequal distribution or unequal effect of candidate qualities. While the former point to structural differences between male and female politicians and how they are supported by their parties, the latter speak to the literature on discrimination by voters. Hence, we provide insides by taking into account supply- and demand-side factors – something which is not done adequately in many existing studies. Obviously, depending on whether unequal distribution or unequal effect dominate, strategies to increase gender equality would have to differ substantively by focusing either more on the supply or the demand side of representative democracy.