Youth Advantage Versus Gender Penalty: Selecting and Electing Young Candidates

Abstract

Young people are under-represented in formal politics. While this may be a mere projection of their lack among voters and party members, the article investigates whether being young is a disadvantage in election processes, and if age effects differ by gender. Bridging the literature on gender & politics and political behavior, the article draws on an innovative sequential mixed-method design. Studying the 2019 Irish local elections, it uses 33 interviews to build hypotheses, which are subsequently tested on an original candidate-level dataset ( n = 1884). The findings suggest that, when controlling for party affiliation and political status, being young can provide a net electoral advantage to male candidates. In contrast, young female candidates appear to be advantaged by their age but penalized by their gender. The article thus contributes to our understanding about the conditions right at the start of political careers and the emergence of intersectional representational inequalities.

Apprentices or outsiders? Age-driven heterogeneities in access to political capital and reelection

“…While previous literature provides evidence that youth bias affects the recruitment fortunes of young political aspirants (Belschner, 2023; Rehmert, 2022; Stockemer and Sundström, 2018), little is known about the legislative activity and political fortunes of young MPs who successfully navigate the recruitment process and get elected (Cirone et al, 2021; Erikson and Josefsson, 2021; Wood and Young, 1997). This knowledge gap is significant, given the recent demands for—and minor improvements in—youth descriptive representation (Krook and Nugent, 2018; Stockemer and Sundström, 2023).…”

“…While gender and ethnic background are enduring identities that tend to persist throughout one’s life, everyone eventually “grows out” of being young. Young MPs might therefore not be subjected to the same exclusionary practices as women MPs or MPs of color (Belschner, 2023). On the contrary, senior party officials might view young MPs as younger versions of themselves: prospective future party elites that need to be trained and groomed to reach their full potential (Cirone et al, 2021).…”

“…On one hand, young MPs may face similar exclusionary practices as their women colleagues (Belschner, 2023; Cirone et al, 2021; Erikson and Josefsson, 2021). If age is used by party selectors as a proxy for dependability or political competence (Belschner, 2023; Rehmert, 2022), then an average young MP might actually be farther away from the ideal of a promising politician than an average woman legislator. This could limit young MPs’ access tao political-capital-enhancing tasks and posts (Cirone et al, 2021).…”

“…The reasons for this are multifaceted, spanning from young people’s position in the life cycle to feelings of alienation caused by a lack of relevant policy proposals and political role models (Lawless and Fox, 2015; Stockemer and Sundström, 2023). On the demand side, existing norms within political parties about the qualities a successful politician should possess can disadvantage young political aspirants (Belschner, 2023; Rehmert, 2022; Stockemer and Sundström, 2018: 469). These norms often favor traits, resources, and competences that young individuals have yet to acquire (Belschner, 2023; Bjarnegård, 2013; Cirone et al, 2021).…”

“…On the demand side, existing norms within political parties about the qualities a successful politician should possess can disadvantage young political aspirants (Belschner, 2023; Rehmert, 2022; Stockemer and Sundström, 2018: 469). These norms often favor traits, resources, and competences that young individuals have yet to acquire (Belschner, 2023; Bjarnegård, 2013; Cirone et al, 2021). 1 Nevertheless, some young individuals do succeed in navigating the recruitment process and secure election, a success that is in part attributable to the growing demands for youth representation (Krook and Nugent, 2018; Stockemer and Sundström, 2022).…”