Political Theory

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Minarchist — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:35:14 GMT

A small minority of people use reason to choose their ethical and political principles, and everyone else uses reason (if at all) only to find justification for principles which they've already come to through intuition. Among the former group, I expect there would be about as many female as male libertarians - as reason is reason regardless of the gender of the person using it. But among the latter group, where principles originate in individual psychology, I tend to think there are more male libertarians than female libertarians. Speaking in a very general way, I think men tend to be more individualistic than women. Men tend to be greater risk-takers than women. Women tend to be more empathetic than men. Women tend to cooperate, where men tend to compete.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

EmbraceLiberty — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:18:25 GMT

Why hasn't anyone thought of Ayn Rand? Or is she something else?

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

myhumangetsme — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:08:44 GMT

Funny, when I saw that a previous poster couldn't think of any libertarian women I immediately thought of Patterson and Wilder Lane and also Zora Neale Hurston and Mary Wollstonecraft. Suzanne Le Follette and Edith Efron also came to mind.

I would posit that part of the reason you see less libertarianism amongst women is because the issue of women's rights appears to be settled.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

John James — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 04:27:24 GMT

Neodoxy:
Why? It's sure as hell a sausage fest around here (begging your pardon Lady Saiga)

http://mises.org/Community/forums/p/24055/414044.aspx#414044

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

vive la insurrection — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 04:20:48 GMT

Frankly the overwhelming majority of people who I've ever met who are at all really interested in politics are men.

That may be one reason why I tend to find women more interesting than men.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Wheylous — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:32:08 GMT

It's probably because their small feminine brains can't handle the complacated thinkign that we have to use around here. That's why, as a libertatarian, I support women staying at home and looking after children, you know, what god wanted them to do.

Welp, someone had to come out and say it. It's official now.

Although there has been questioning of Mises on the same topic:

http://libertarianleft.freeforums.org/mises-and-birth-control-t1343.html

I tried to analyze the work as much as possible.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Neodoxy — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:28:31 GMT

"80% were men, very interesting."

Why? It's sure as hell a sausage fest around here (begging your pardon Lady Saiga)

Frankly the overwhelming majority of people who I've ever met who are at all really interested in politics are men. I only know of a handful of women I've ever seen online who are political as well..

... It's probably because their small feminine brains can't handle the complacated thinkign that we have to use around here. That's why, as a libertatarian, I support women having no rights in the workplace, except as secrataries, and staying at home and looking after children, you know, what god wanted them to do.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

EmbraceLiberty — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:35:45 GMT

I looked up contributions made to Ron Paul and 80% were men, very interesting.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Kelvin Silva — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:58:50 GMT

Liberals raise their fists and shout workers rights, and equality for all.

Equal pay for women!!! Break the shackles of the domination of men. Kill the exploitation of women (even though men pay for the dinner when dating)!!!!

Its also argued that since divorces are skyrocketing, single women with children depend more on public services from the state.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

vive la insurrection — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:10:10 GMT

I don't think sniffing up sociobiology is going to lead to many good answers. It seems like a form of scientism.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

nirgrahamUK — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:50:20 GMT

I think there are attempts from social scientists to research this.

for example

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/pnorris/Articles/Articles%20published%20in%20journals_files/Developmental_Theory_of_Gender_Gap_Inglehart_Norris_2000.pdf:

Abstract

Studies carried out in many countries in previous decades found that women were more conservative than men and less likely to participate in politics. Here, it is examined whether this traditional gender gap persists today, or whether gender cleavages in the electorate have converged, and whether the phenomenon of the modern gender gap, with women more left wing, has become evident elsewhere. The article draws on evidence from the World Values Surveys in the early 1980s, and the early and mid-1990s carried out in over sixty countries around the world. This study establishes that gender differences in electoral behavior have been realigning, with women moving toward the left of men throughout advanced industrial societies (though not in postcommunist societies or developing countries) and explores the reasons for this development, including the role of structural and cultural factors. The conclusion considers the political implications of the findings

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

John James — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:43:01 GMT

I'd be interested to see this discussion resurrected. (The OP one, not the tangent.)

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

BlackNumero — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:26:08 GMT

Women are more left than right for a number of reasons. Women are the motherly figures, "caring", "loving" and looking out for everyone, much like the democratic party who helps the poor, disadvantaged, etc, from a number of troubles whereas conservatives/libertarians appear cold blooded and resist much more visible forms of help. Most women support "progressive" policies (child labor laws, worker regulation, anti discrimination laws) that go directly againist libertarian policies and their support for "dog eat dog" capitalism. In addition, mainly because of the mother-son link, most women are anti-war, and as such go to the left instead of the right because liberals "appear" to be more anti-war than conservatives. You also have the big ticket items, like abortion, which from at least my experience most women believe is their decision, and the overall image of liberalism, which promotes change and breaking the status quo of female discrimination, etc etc, something that conservatives and libertarians don't seem to care too much about.

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Leviathan — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:20:17 GMT

Saan:

The state has a long reach. If you violate its laws it can and will put you in prison. Why give someone's real name, beside your own. I would be pissed. Give your name as much as you want. Give others the same courtesy, that is all.

Yes, and my own written claims on a forum that someone smoked marijuana are certainly enough to get them 20 to life, aren't they? ;)

Re: Are men more likely to be libertarian than women?

Spideynw — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:00:37 GMT

CrazyCoot:

But what about in general? I mean if you were to ask 10 men at random and 10 women at random would there be a substantial difference in the number of self-identified libertarians between the genders?

It depends on what is significant. At random, if you ask 10 men or 10 women if they are libertarian, your results would probably be 0 for both.