Many factors have been offered to explain gender differences
in voter turnout. However, some researchers suggest
that there is in fact no gender difference when the
fact that women are over-represented in groups with
lower levels of participation is taken into consideration
(Newman and Sheth 1984). Similarly, some argue that
focusing on the gender gap prevents us from understanding
that it is certain groups of women, as opposed to all
women, that account for the gender gap (Greenberg
1998). Nevertheless, national election surveys conducted
in 19 countries worldwide show that level of education
has a strong impact on the different voting behaviour as
between men and women. Women at lower levels of education
are considerably less likely to vote than men with
the same level of education (Norris 2002). It can therefore
be assumed that an improvement in women's educational
level during the post-Second World War era is an
important factor in explaining why women's turnout has
improved. Work and socio-economic status, among other
factors, are weaker explanatory factors in explaining differences
in voter turnout between men and women
(Norris 2002).
The Future and Implications of