The electoral relevance of female emancipatory values in contemporary Dutch parliamentary elections

This research analyses the strategic usage of female emancipatory values in the Dutch parliamentary elections of 2017. In doing so, it tests the remaining electoral relevance of feminism in the politics of the largely egalitarian country of the Netherlands as well. The European Social Survey has been used for conducting the quantitative analysis. Contrary to expectations, findings show that the female electorate is less likely to vote for a party that has implemented female emancipatory values in its program. This voting preference was found not be influenced by experience with gender-discrimination. Also, one’s beliefs in political efficacy did not prove to be of influence either. The analysis introduces an alternative model, in order to determine the predictors for voting preference for a party that has incorporated female emancipatory values. Secularism and gender appear to contribute to an individual’s voting preference for such a party. Implementations of social movements in party programs, here feminism, are argued to be more about party positioning.