Does deliberation contribute to decreasing the gender gap in knowledge?. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraile, Marta
• Other Names: Isernia Pierangelo guest-editor.; Fishkin James S guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: European Union politics. Volume 15:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Comparative politics -- deliberation -- OLS regression -- public opinion -- quasi-experiment; European Union countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.9405
• DOI: 10.1177/1465116514527525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-1165

Abstract

This article tests the role of deliberation in potentially reducing the gender gap in knowledge. It compares gender differences in knowledge of both participants and non-participants before and after the Europolis deliberative event took place by making use of the difference in difference estimation method. Findings show that deliberation increases the political knowledge of participants (especially women) suggesting that it contributes to reducing the gender gap in knowledge by providing participants not only with information and awareness about the topics discussed but also with confidence when answering factual knowledge questions. These results suggest the need to conduct further research about the way in which information–rich contexts might reduce other potential inequalities in sources of knowledge.