EU make me feel like a natural woman

• Department of Political and Social Sciences

This event, organised by the Gender Working Group, features a paper presentation by EUI scholars Di Leo Riccardo, Meiske Biljana, and Cheysson Anatole on gender quotes and voters.

This event examines how gender quotas shape the incentives of party selectorates and incumbents. Quotas heighten competition among men, reducing the number of list slots available to them. Women may face similar pressures if quotas attract more female competitors but fail to improve their electability. Increased competition prompts incumbents to signal loyalty to selectorates, which gain stronger control over candidate (re-)nomination.

We study these dynamics in the European Parliament (EP), analysing forty years of Roll Call Votes, two surveys of candidates and MEPs, and data on MEPs’ backgrounds and responsibilities. Results show that quotas increase discipline and participation among both men and women, particularly in closed-list systems. We also find that selectorates gain influence over candidates in the nomination process and prioritize political congruence over competence when quotas are in place.