Genre, âge et participation politique: les élections fédérales de 1995 dans le canton de Genève

Abstract

La présente contribution analyse la participation aux élections fédérales de 1995 dans le canton de Genève selon le genre et l'âge, en utilisant des statistiques électorales disponibles pour la première fois. Les résultats montrent que le moindre taux de participation féminine est avant tout un fait de l'ancienne génération. En sus des effets présumés de l'obtention tardive du droit de vote, la sur-représentation des états matrimoniaux favorables à la désintégration sociale (séparation, divorce et surtout le veuvage) dans ces tranches d'âge de la population féminine expliquent en partie la différence de participation électorale entre hommes et femmes. A l'inverse, le mariage, mais aussi le célibat, semblent constituer pour certaines catégories d'électrices âgées des "ressources" qui atténuent la tendance à la "démobilisation". Quelques pistes d'ulilisation de ces données dans le futur sont suggérées.

Gender Gap and Turnout in the 2003 Federal Elections

“…In addition, this explanation oversimplifies the complex processes of socialisation that do not suddenly stop upon reaching legal voting age. It also understates the impact of the social changes that have provided women with greater access to education and the job market, as well as other effects due to age (BallmerCao and Sgier 1998;Wernli 2001;Sciarini et al 2001). Women who did not have voting rights when they became legal adults could have obtained a familiarity Brunner to the Federal Council in 1993, and the massive strike by women in 1991 in support of pay equity.…”

“…On the effects of age and its interaction with gender, see Brunner (2001), Sciarini et al (2001), and Wernli (2001). We primarily apply their conclusions in the section where we discuss the results of our study.…”

“…11 In contrast, Sciarini et al (2001) emphasize the integrating effect of marriage on the electoral voting behaviour of men and women. According to their analysis, widows, however, are those most likely to have low levels of participation.…”

“…A similar effect, however, was not found with men. In addition, civil status can have a specific effect on women in the case of widowhood, which discouraged the participation of older women (Sciarini et al 2001). A low level of political sophistication can also provoke a censoring effect that is greater for women (Frazer and MacDonald 2003).…”

“…Later studies analysed the impacts of gender in terms of the resources required for voting (Ballmer-Cao 1978;Mottier 1993) or in terms of politicisation (Inglehart 1979). More recently, Sciarini et al (2001) demonstrated the combined effects of gender, age, and marital status on electoral participation in the canton of Geneva during the 1999 federal elections. Wernli (2001) examined the interaction between gender and age in a study of the 1995 elections, while Kriesi (2005) examined this joint effect in a longitudinal study of popular votes.…”