Â鶹´«Ã½AV

Abstract

The modern gender gap—where women are more left-leaning than men—has been widely attributed to modernisation, including women’s higher education and workforce participation. However, this explanation struggles to account for why younger generations of men in some contexts have become more conservative, widening the gap in opposite directions despite experiencing the same levels of modernisation. This study examines whether this pattern holds in Australia. 

Further drawing on feminist, rational choice, socialisation, and cultural backlash theories, I hypothesise that the gender gap is not only a product of generational realignment but also shaped by socioeconomic position, political socialisation, and issue priorities. Using Â鶹´«Ã½AV Election Study (AES) time-series data (1987-2022) and a series of regression models—including hierarchical age-period-cohort (HAPC), APC interaction (APC-I) and coefficient comparison models—I examine ideological self-placement, party identification, and voting behaviour. Findings indicate that women, across all generations, are slightly more left leaning than men, and while this difference is statistically significant, it remains small. Generational shifts show that each successive cohort—particularly Gen Z—is more likely to support left parties, with the overall trend holding across both sexes. The gender gap persists due to differences in issue priorities: both men and women tend to vote for parties they believe will best address their concerns during a particular election period. Education, class, government in power and parents’ political affiliation during formative ages, and social networks also shape political preferences; while the magnitude and direction of these effects vary between men and women (with some factors making women more right leaning) the broader pattern remains consistent across sexes. These findings challenge traditional modernisation theory by showing that structural changes alone do not fully explain gendered political realignments. Instead, they highlight the enduring role of issue priorities in shaping gendered political preferences across generations. These findings have implications for how parties engage with intersecting voter groups, particularly as younger generations become a more dominant electoral force.