The modern gender gap in Serbia (1990–2024): Women’s ideological self-placement - Not left, but not right

Jovanović, Marko and Marković, Ksenija (2025) The modern gender gap in Serbia (1990–2024): Women’s ideological self-placement - Not left, but not right. Sociologija, 67 (4). pp. 550-567. ISSN 0038-0318

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Abstract

Previous studies of ideological attitudes show gender differences in ideological self-positioning on the left-right scale, where it is concluded that women are more inclined to left-wing and progressive ideas– they more often identify themselves with the center-left compared to men. This phenomenon is called the modern gender gap. This paper examines whether this shift of women towards the center left, which was recorded in the countries of Western Europe, also exists in Serbia. The work uses the databases of public opinion research (1990-2024), owned by the Institute of Social Sciences, and international research conducted in Serbia. Examining the ideological positioning of men and women in Serbia over the past three decades can provide valuable insights into both the nature of the gender gap and the importance of self-centeredness in the post-socialist context. The results of the research in Serbia show that the predominant self-positioning of women in the position of the center left (only average values are considered) does not result primarily from their stronger connection with the left, but rather represents a combination of a lower tendency to position themselves on the right and a greater tendency towards the center. Additional analyses of gender differences showed that choosing the center on the scale left and right can be an expression of insecurity and the absence of clear attitudes, which opens up space for further examination of the motives of women to choose a centrist position on the scale

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