Democracy and Gender Inequality in Education: A Cross-National Examination
Author(s)
Brown, David S.
Abstract
This article uses data on educational attainment to examine the relationship between democracy and the gap in education between women and men.Of the three dimensions that constitute Gurr’s definition of democracy, only one (executive recruitment) shows a strong, consistent correlation with gender inequality in education. The results suggest that the institutional constraints under which a nation’s political leader is placed do not make a significant difference; nor do those aspects of democracy associated directly with political participation. My findings imply that the processes nations use to recruit and select their chief executives strongly influence opportunities for women. A more regulated, open and competitive process of executive recruitment compels candidates to address concerns voiced by previously ignored groups in order to build electoral support. The results lend support to Schumpeter’s argument that the manner in which a country selects its chief executive is the most salient feature of the democratic process.
