Closing the gap: gender parity in political engagement on social media. Issue 4 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bode, Leticia
• Is Part Of: Information, communication & society. Volume 20:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 587
• Page End: 603
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Gender -- political participation -- social media -- Internet -- political knowledge; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; Internet -- Periodicals; World Wide Web -- Periodicals; 303.4833
• DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2016.1202302
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-118X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Historically, major gender differences exist in both political engagement and online content creation. Expanding on these literatures, this study considers the extent to which men and women engage in politics specifically in social media. Novel survey data are employed to test for any gendered differences in encountering and responding to political content via social media. Despite measuring a robust set of political behaviors within social media, few gender differences emerge. Where differences do emerge, they are most likely among the most visible political behaviors, suggesting that women may strategically engage in less visible or less-likely-to-offend political behaviors, as compared to men. This poses important questions regarding political participation, representation, and gender.