A persistent gender gap in political engagement has long been observed, yet its origins and evolution across the life course remain poorly understood. While women today have similar access to education and information as men, they continue to report lower levels of political engagement. Previous research has mainly focused on structural and situational disadvantages, such as resource inequalities and gender-differentiated roles, to explain the gap in political involvement. However, its persistence has brought gendered political socialization processes back into focus as a key origin and main explanation of enduring inequalities (Bos et al., 2022).
Research shows that gender gaps in political interest emerge early and remain stable throughout adulthood (Fraile & Sánchez-Vítores, 2019). Significant differences in how boys and girls relate to politics have been reported at an early age in both European countries (van Deth et al., 2011) and the United States (Bos et al., 2022). Recent evidence also suggests that the development of political self-confidence follows distinct trajectories for boys and girls. Despite its relevance, political socialization remains a “black box” due to its complex dynamics and the scarcity of longitudinal evidence spanning the life course.
This paper presents a comparative longitudinal study of two core political orientations, political interest and internal political efficacy, that are key determinants of adult political engagement (Converse, 1972; Lawless & Fox, 2010). Using data from Understanding Society, we trace the co-evolution of these orientations at four points in time, following individuals from adolescence into adulthood. Applying multilevel growth models, we identify how these attitudes evolve and whether their trajectories differ by gender and education.
Results show that gender differences appear early and persist across the life course, with women consistently reporting lower levels of political efficacy and interest. However, some divergence emerges in the evolution of these attitudes between men and women. Increases in political efficacy are positively associated with higher political interest for both genders, though the relationship is weaker among women, particularly those with higher education. This suggests that while structural resources facilitate engagement, gendered psychological and cultural dynamics continue to shape how political confidence translates into political motivation.
