Work

Women in office: The impact of female politicians on gender-based violence reporting

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Gender-based violence in the U.S. is a silent epidemic. Twenty percent of women experience rape, yet only one in three reports it. Using FBI data and a regression discontinuity design, we examine the impact of female U.S. House Representatives on reported rapes and femicides. Our findings suggest an increase in reporting, rather than higher levels of violence. Our setting and additional analysis allow us to rule out policy channels. We argue that female politicians serve as role models, influencing reporting through symbolic and social pathways. Congressional speech data support this argument: female legislators advocate more against gender-based violence, and their speeches correlate with higher reporting in their districts.

Source: European Journal of Political Economy

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102794

Authors: Veronica Frisancho, Evi Pappa, Camila Ramírez, Chiara Santantonio

Institutions: CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, World Bank, University of Bath

Language: English

Topic: Gender Politics and Representation

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650