Affective polarisation has become a defining feature of contemporary democracies, yet its gendered dimensions remain under explored. While research in the United States suggests that women exhibit higher levels of affective polarisation than men, our analysis indicates that in Europe men and women are equally polarised. We
demonstrate that there is a gender gap in the intensity of affective polarisation but also in its underlying drivers. Using public opinion data from France, Italy, Lithuania, and Poland, we show that partisanship is the primary driver of affective polarisation for both men and women. However, issue-based polarisation – particularly
on womens rights – exacerbates partisan divisions among women. Mediation analysis reveals that in contexts where gendered issues are deeply politicised, such as Poland, partisan sorting intensifies affective polarisation. In contrast, in less polarised environments, issue-based conflict operates independently of partisanship.
These findings challenge conventional accounts of affective polarisation that focus
solely on partisan identity and underscore the need for an intersectional approach that incorporates gendered issues into models of affective polarisation.
