Maria Stanfors

Women have made substantial gains in education in recent decades and outperform
men in educational attainment across the OECD, but the consequences of this reversal of the gender gap in education (RGE) have not been well researched. In this study, we address the association between the RGE and partnering, employment, and support for a right-wing populist party in Sweden. Of note, we explore the differential impacts of women’s educational advancements versus men’s lagging by using cross-sectional register data and within-areal age variation in RGE. Results show that RGE is
negatively associated with partnering and employment prospects among individuals
with a low level of education. Furthermore, results suggest that men’s educational
disadvantage may contribute to growing support for right-wing populist parties.
Overall, this study highlights how shifting gender gaps in education can lead to
frustration in various areas of life, fostering political discontent and anti-egalitarian
values.