This project focuses on the changing politics of gender amidst growing polarization. The aim is
twofold: 1) to identify the mechanisms behind politicization of gender-related issues and trace
their integration into political beliefs, party strategies, and public opinion, and 2) to gain a better
understanding of women politicians’ experiences, and particularly the factors behind their
decisions to (dis)continue their careers. Despite the growing research on polarization, we still
know relatively little about how political conflict emerges over issues, such as gender, that were
previously uncontested. Furthermore, while the extant literature examines women’s political
representations and barriers to entry, less is known about women’s experiences once they hold
political office. This project addresses these knowledge gaps. Several methods will be used to
collect data, including interviews, survey experiments, and elite surveys. The project makes
conceptual and empirical contributions to the literature on the role of gender perceptions in
political behavior and institutional dynamics.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.