Gender-generation gaps and progressivism: the relationship between values and vote choice

How do gender and generational gaps in social and economic positions shape voting behaviour? With the shift from the traditional to the modern gender gap—where younger generations of women are increasingly likely to support left-leaning parties—the assumption has been that women are becoming progressively more liberal. However, emerging research highlights the complexity of the interplay between social and economic positions in shaping these gender-generation dynamics. This study explores whether the growing progressivism observed among young women leads to larger gender gaps in voting behaviour, or if economic grievances play a more significant role. Furthermore, it examines how intersectional identities interact with gender and generational shifts to influence voting patterns. Building on prior research, this study analyses how social and economic attitudes distinctly affect voting patterns across demographic groups over time. Using European Values Survey (EVS) data from OECD countries, we employ multilevel models to investigate variations in the electoral significance of economic versus social issues by gender, generation, education, and social class. Additionally, we assess how macro-level factors—such as welfare regime types, female labour force participation, and societal religiosity—moderate these relationships. By offering a comparative and intersectional perspective, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving role of gender and generational gaps in shaping political behaviour in contemporary democracies.