Suffrage, Turnout and the Household: The Case of Early Women Voters in Sweden

Exploiting unique individual level turnout data from electoral registers in a mid-sized city in Sweden at the time of women's suffrage, we exploit several complementing designs and provide evidence that whilst marriage was mobilizing for wives, it was as important for husbands. Building on research that emphasizes importance of social networks for mobilization, we interpret these results as consistent with an explanation where marriage provides a prime discussion forum for both spouses. The opportunity for frequent interactions within marriage encourages turnout and mobilization of both women and men even in a context where political resources are not equally distributed between women and men, and sexist attitudes to politics remain prevalent.

Dr Mona Morgan-Collins is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Gender and Political Economy at King's College London.

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PLEASE NOTE THIS SEMINAR WILL TAKE PLACE IN PERSON