Women in Government: A comparative analysis of female representation and militarization spending across countries

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Kutzavitch, Kendall
Area of Honors:
Political Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Lee Ann Banaszak, Thesis Supervisor
Michael Barth Berkman, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Female Representation
Military Spending
Women in Goverment
Gender Equality
Militarization
National Legislatures
Military Expenditures
Abstract:
This study examines the relationship between female representation in government and militarization, specifically analyzing how the percentage of women in national legislatures influences military spending as a percentage of GDP. While research suggests that greater female representation may be associated with lower defense expenditures due to women’s stronger preference for diplomacy and conflict resolution, alternative perspectives argue that women in leadership may adopt more aggressive policies to navigate male-dominated political systems. In addition to analyzing female representation, this study also investigates the impact of gender equality on military spending, assessing whether societies with greater gender equality allocate fewer resources to defense. Using a dataset of 103 countries, this research evaluates how both female political representation and gender equality influence military spending, providing insights into the broader relationship between gender dynamics and state militarization. The findings indicate that both greater female representation in national legislatures and higher levels of gender equality are linked to reduced military spending, reinforcing the argument that gender inclusivity influences national defense priorities. By shedding light on these connections, this study contributes to ongoing debates in international security and gender politics, emphasizing the broader implications of political representation and societal structures on defense policy.