The populist radical right, the gender gap and protective masculinity across European countries

2025/08/07 by Kathina Mehring, Gefjon Off, Katarzyna Wojnicka · 1 voice
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Child and Adolescent Health #Social Issues and Policies #Social Policy and Reform Studies

paper · doi:10.1332/25151088y2025d000000101

openalex publication_date 2025/08/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

Various studies show that men disproportionately vote for populist radical right (PRR) parties. However, research has been unable to fully explain this gender gap. In an attempt to address this research gap, this article theorizes, quantitatively operationalizes and tests the role of ‘protective masculinity’ in the gender gap in PRR support in a cross-sectional study across 18 European countries. Using mediation analysis, we find that ‘protective masculinity’ partly explains the gender gap in PRR support. However, while more men than women hold ‘protective masculinity’ attitudes, women also do. Moderation analysis shows that these women are equally likely as men to support the PRR based on these attitudes. Bridging previous qualitative research on masculinity and quantitative research on PRR support, this article contributes a partial explanation of the gender gap. Its findings call for research on women’s conservatism and PRR support.

Citations

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Discussions

• 🚨NEW ARTICLE ALERT🚨 Can "protective masculinity" help explain the gender gap in support for the populist radical right? 👀 In this new ✨OPEN ACCESS✨ paper, Kathina Mehring , @gefjonoff.bsky.socia [bsky, 10 points, 1 comments]

Related

• The gender gap in populist radical-right voting: examining the demand side in Western and Eastern Europe
• ‘Men’s Parties’, but With More Active Women: Gender and Party Activism in the Populist Radical Right
• Gender, populist attitudes, and voting: explaining the gender gap in voting for populist radical right and populist radical left parties
• Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests
• Adverse Contagion? Populist Radical Right Parties and Norms on Gender Balance in Political Institutions