This paper examines gender differences in political participation among first- and second-generation Turkish immigrants in Germany and the Netherlands, focusing on how gender interacts with demographic and meso-level characteristics, such as immigrant cohort, experiences of discrimination, socio-economic resources, and participation in civic and cultural organizations, to shape different political behaviors.
Using quantitative data from secondary surveys - previously unexplored in this context - the analysis reveals intra- and inter-generational gendered patterns of participation. For example, women are more likely to vote than men, but first-generation women-those who migrated as adults, teenagers, or children-are more likely to vote than second-generation women-born in Germany or the Netherlands to immigrants of Turkish origin. Moreover, interactions show that the positive association of education and income with voting is stronger for men, especially first-generation men. To deepen the understanding of why political behavior is shaped differently by gender, I integrate original qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews.
Methodologically, the study advances the field of gendered political behavior by adopting a transnational lens and exploring the interplay between gender and migration-specific characteristics in shaping political behavior. Empirically, this research contributes by bridging quantitative patterns and qualitative narratives, bringing us closer to unpacking the dynamics of immigrant political participation.
