Gendering Municipal Government: Female Descriptive Representation and Feelings of Political Trust*

Stacy G. Ulbig

Social Science Quarterly, 2007, vol. 88, issue 5, 1106-1123

Abstract: Objectives. Voter participation, political knowledge and efficacy, and feelings of political estrangement or alienation have all been linked to varying levels of racial/ethnic descriptive representation. The goal of this study is to investigate similar effects on feelings of political trust with regard to the descriptive representation of women in municipal government. Methods. Using original survey data collected in 70 different U.S. municipalities, this study investigates the linkage between the descriptive representation of women on municipal legislative bodies and attitudes of political trust among the public, while controlling for other important factors. Results. The findings indicate that female descriptive representation has slightly positive effects on women's political trust, and much stronger negative effects on men's feelings of trust in government. Importantly, this effect is present only among those citizens exhibiting a moderate awareness of politics and government. Conclusions. These findings suggest that our investigations into the impact of female descriptive representation need to include more fine‐grained analyses to uncover other potential group differences, and that descriptive representation may enhance feelings of governmental trust among some segments of society but may not cure ailing political trust levels in the aggregate.

Date: 2007
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