Diana O'Brien
@dzobrien.bsky.social
Professor at @washu.edu researching gender and politics and women’s political representation. More info at: www.dianaobrien.com
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
January 15, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Does news about a more diverse Congress change how Americans see democracy?
In POQ, Olson et al. find that diversity boosts Democrats’ trust in Congress, has no effect on Republicans, and does not weaken support for democratic norms.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
In POQ, Olson et al. find that diversity boosts Democrats’ trust in Congress, has no effect on Republicans, and does not weaken support for democratic norms.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
January 13, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Does news about a more diverse Congress change how Americans see democracy?
In POQ, Olson et al. find that diversity boosts Democrats’ trust in Congress, has no effect on Republicans, and does not weaken support for democratic norms.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
In POQ, Olson et al. find that diversity boosts Democrats’ trust in Congress, has no effect on Republicans, and does not weaken support for democratic norms.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
🚨Free book alert (for 2 weeks)!
In her new CUP Element, @caglayanbaser.bsky.social shows that rebel groups with♀️combatants are seen as more gender-equal, democratic and morally legitimate, even when they perpetrate violence. This increases public support for government sponsorship of rebel groups!
In her new CUP Element, @caglayanbaser.bsky.social shows that rebel groups with♀️combatants are seen as more gender-equal, democratic and morally legitimate, even when they perpetrate violence. This increases public support for government sponsorship of rebel groups!
🎉New book alert! 📢Do female combatants shape foreign support for rebel groups?
My new @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org
book shows that groups with women fighters receive more foreign backing because they’re seen as more democratic, gender equal and less violent.
🔓Free to read for 2 weeks👇
My new @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org
book shows that groups with women fighters receive more foreign backing because they’re seen as more democratic, gender equal and less violent.
🔓Free to read for 2 weeks👇
Excited to share a new Cambridge Element in the Gender & Politics Series. 📚 Read for free for the next 2 weeks cup.org/49HjK5q
Congratulations @caglayanbaser.bsky.social
👏👏👏
@cambup-polsci.cambridge.org
@dzobrien.bsky.social
@rblaifeder.bsky.social
Congratulations @caglayanbaser.bsky.social
👏👏👏
@cambup-polsci.cambridge.org
@dzobrien.bsky.social
@rblaifeder.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
🚨Free book alert (for 2 weeks)!
In her new CUP Element, @caglayanbaser.bsky.social shows that rebel groups with♀️combatants are seen as more gender-equal, democratic and morally legitimate, even when they perpetrate violence. This increases public support for government sponsorship of rebel groups!
In her new CUP Element, @caglayanbaser.bsky.social shows that rebel groups with♀️combatants are seen as more gender-equal, democratic and morally legitimate, even when they perpetrate violence. This increases public support for government sponsorship of rebel groups!
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Now on my substack, Gender Gap: 5 notable gaps discussed in 2025.
1. leaving the U.S.
2. marriage aspirations
3. social media use
4. loneliness
5. college plans
I picked these bc they signal how men/women structure their social lives and are imagining their futures.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
1. leaving the U.S.
2. marriage aspirations
3. social media use
4. loneliness
5. college plans
I picked these bc they signal how men/women structure their social lives and are imagining their futures.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
December 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Now on my substack, Gender Gap: 5 notable gaps discussed in 2025.
1. leaving the U.S.
2. marriage aspirations
3. social media use
4. loneliness
5. college plans
I picked these bc they signal how men/women structure their social lives and are imagining their futures.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
1. leaving the U.S.
2. marriage aspirations
3. social media use
4. loneliness
5. college plans
I picked these bc they signal how men/women structure their social lives and are imagining their futures.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Thanks Eric! Your work on minority candidate emergence/supply was really useful for shaping our thinking on this!
December 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Thanks Eric! Your work on minority candidate emergence/supply was really useful for shaping our thinking on this!
Excited that "Race, Gender, and Nascent Political Ambition" is now out in @bjpols.bsky.social. W/ survey of white, Hispanic, and Black American respondents, we show primary gap in nascent political ambition is not between men and women but between white men and the majority of the polity.
December 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Excited that "Race, Gender, and Nascent Political Ambition" is now out in @bjpols.bsky.social. W/ survey of white, Hispanic, and Black American respondents, we show primary gap in nascent political ambition is not between men and women but between white men and the majority of the polity.
Anyway, this is a long thread to say how deeply sad I feel about this news. As a gender and politics scholar, I loved my time working with A&M students and faculty. I hate to think about what current and future students and colleagues are missing out on. 5/5
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Anyway, this is a long thread to say how deeply sad I feel about this news. As a gender and politics scholar, I loved my time working with A&M students and faculty. I hate to think about what current and future students and colleagues are missing out on. 5/5
We generated hypotheses together. We looked at data. We learned, together. My colleagues trusted me, and my students trusted me. It was one of the most rewarding teaching experiences of my career. 4/
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We generated hypotheses together. We looked at data. We learned, together. My colleagues trusted me, and my students trusted me. It was one of the most rewarding teaching experiences of my career. 4/
But the overwhelming majority came in indifferent, and a non-trivial share were skeptical. And honestly? I welcomed it. I’m an empirical social scientist. I’m always asking (and asking my students): How would you know if you were right? And, more importantly, how would you know if you were wrong? 3/
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
But the overwhelming majority came in indifferent, and a non-trivial share were skeptical. And honestly? I welcomed it. I’m an empirical social scientist. I’m always asking (and asking my students): How would you know if you were right? And, more importantly, how would you know if you were wrong? 3/
I taught my A&M women and politics class several times, and each instance was a joy. A minority of my students arrived already interested in gender equality in politics. It was a delight to connect with them. 2/
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I taught my A&M women and politics class several times, and each instance was a joy. A minority of my students arrived already interested in gender equality in politics. It was a delight to connect with them. 2/
I once had the privilege of teaching a women & politics courses at Texas A&M. I inherited the class from a colleague, but I made it fully my own (no one double-checked my syllabi). And the course addressed gender, sexuality, and intersectionality—b/c, obvi. I have never enjoyed teaching more! 1/
Texas A&M University adopts a policy requiring professors to get approval from the school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
Texas A&M University professors now need approval for some race and gender topics
Texas A&M University has adopted a new policy requiring professors to first get approval to discuss some race and gender topics.
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I once had the privilege of teaching a women & politics courses at Texas A&M. I inherited the class from a colleague, but I made it fully my own (no one double-checked my syllabi). And the course addressed gender, sexuality, and intersectionality—b/c, obvi. I have never enjoyed teaching more! 1/
Feeling grateful to @jennpiscopo.bsky.social for including our co-authored @apsrjournal.bsky.social article on gender quotas in this piece for @policyoptions.irpp.org. Despite pundits' fears, we find that 🚹's overrepresentation is much more corrosive to democratic legitimacy than gender quotas.
For @policyoptions.irpp.org, I wrote about how Canada lags its European and Anglo peers in electing women to parliament, how that harms their reputation, and, drawing on research w/ @dzobrien.bsky.social & Amanda Clayton, why voters prefer gender parity. policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/10/gend...
Canada ranks 71st for women in politics
Canada ranks 71st in the world for women in parliament. Voters support gender quotas to make politics more representative.
policyoptions.irpp.org
October 29, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Feeling grateful to @jennpiscopo.bsky.social for including our co-authored @apsrjournal.bsky.social article on gender quotas in this piece for @policyoptions.irpp.org. Despite pundits' fears, we find that 🚹's overrepresentation is much more corrosive to democratic legitimacy than gender quotas.
I’m really proud of (and grateful to) my colleagues for writing this op-ed. As a @washu.edu alumna and faculty member, I forcefully echo their statement. Faculty excellence and student success should be our lodestar. Signing the compact moves us further from those aims.
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Opinion: Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'
Washington University in St. Louis has built its reputation on a simple ideal: excellence wins. For decades, our researchers have competed for and won federal grants based on the quality
www.stltoday.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I’m really proud of (and grateful to) my colleagues for writing this op-ed. As a @washu.edu alumna and faculty member, I forcefully echo their statement. Faculty excellence and student success should be our lodestar. Signing the compact moves us further from those aims.
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
#OpenAccess from August 2025 -
Voter Sexism and Electoral Penalties for Women Candidates: Evidence from Four Democracies - cup.org/4m4smXP
"research suggests sexism is prevalent and consequential for voter behaviour"
- @rosieshorrocks.bsky.social, Elizabeth Ralph-Morrow & Roosmarijn de Geus
Voter Sexism and Electoral Penalties for Women Candidates: Evidence from Four Democracies - cup.org/4m4smXP
"research suggests sexism is prevalent and consequential for voter behaviour"
- @rosieshorrocks.bsky.social, Elizabeth Ralph-Morrow & Roosmarijn de Geus
October 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
#OpenAccess from August 2025 -
Voter Sexism and Electoral Penalties for Women Candidates: Evidence from Four Democracies - cup.org/4m4smXP
"research suggests sexism is prevalent and consequential for voter behaviour"
- @rosieshorrocks.bsky.social, Elizabeth Ralph-Morrow & Roosmarijn de Geus
Voter Sexism and Electoral Penalties for Women Candidates: Evidence from Four Democracies - cup.org/4m4smXP
"research suggests sexism is prevalent and consequential for voter behaviour"
- @rosieshorrocks.bsky.social, Elizabeth Ralph-Morrow & Roosmarijn de Geus
Are you attending #APSA2025 and (thinking of) writing a book on the topic of gender and politics?! Come meet the editors of the @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org Cambridge Studies in Gender & Politics! Friday at 2:30pm at the Sutton Place Hotel (Salon Cezanne). We want to talk w/ you!
📢 Meet the Editors: Cambridge Studies in Gender and Politics
📅 APSA Annual Meeting, Fri 12, 2:30–3:30pm
📍 Salon Cezanne, Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver
Join the editors for an informal gathering to learn about the series & share your research on gender and politics
www.cambridge.org/core/series/...
📅 APSA Annual Meeting, Fri 12, 2:30–3:30pm
📍 Salon Cezanne, Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver
Join the editors for an informal gathering to learn about the series & share your research on gender and politics
www.cambridge.org/core/series/...
Cambridge Studies in Gender and Politics
Welcome to Cambridge Core
www.cambridge.org
September 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Are you attending #APSA2025 and (thinking of) writing a book on the topic of gender and politics?! Come meet the editors of the @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org Cambridge Studies in Gender & Politics! Friday at 2:30pm at the Sutton Place Hotel (Salon Cezanne). We want to talk w/ you!
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Here's the catalog description the now-fired Texas A&M lecturer allegedly transgressed by giving a lecture about gender in children's literature.
ENGL 360 Literature for Children
Credits 3. 3 Lecture hours. Representative writers, genres, texts and movements.
president.tamu.edu/messages/an-...
ENGL 360 Literature for Children
Credits 3. 3 Lecture hours. Representative writers, genres, texts and movements.
president.tamu.edu/messages/an-...
September 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Here's the catalog description the now-fired Texas A&M lecturer allegedly transgressed by giving a lecture about gender in children's literature.
ENGL 360 Literature for Children
Credits 3. 3 Lecture hours. Representative writers, genres, texts and movements.
president.tamu.edu/messages/an-...
ENGL 360 Literature for Children
Credits 3. 3 Lecture hours. Representative writers, genres, texts and movements.
president.tamu.edu/messages/an-...
So proud of @gdilandro.bsky.social for successfully defending his thesis "Political Parties and the Gender Voting Gap in Western Democracies: A Supply and Demand Framework." He's already published one dissertation paper in @bjpols.bsky.social & there's more great gender & politics work to come! 🍾
August 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
So proud of @gdilandro.bsky.social for successfully defending his thesis "Political Parties and the Gender Voting Gap in Western Democracies: A Supply and Demand Framework." He's already published one dissertation paper in @bjpols.bsky.social & there's more great gender & politics work to come! 🍾
📘 New from Cambridge & free to download for the next two weeks!
"Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies: The Role of Gender Values and Norms" by Amy C. Alexander & @gefjonoff.bsky.social!
Check out the 🧵 below for a great summary!
"Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies: The Role of Gender Values and Norms" by Amy C. Alexander & @gefjonoff.bsky.social!
Check out the 🧵 below for a great summary!
Our Element is out! 🎉
Why do authoritarian-leaning leaders target women’s and LGBTQ+ rights? Is there a systematic pattern that reaches beyond individual country cases, and how is this reflected in people’s attitudes and societal norms?
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Why do authoritarian-leaning leaders target women’s and LGBTQ+ rights? Is there a systematic pattern that reaches beyond individual country cases, and how is this reflected in people’s attitudes and societal norms?
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies
Cambridge Core - Politics: General Interest - Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies
www.cambridge.org
July 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
📘 New from Cambridge & free to download for the next two weeks!
"Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies: The Role of Gender Values and Norms" by Amy C. Alexander & @gefjonoff.bsky.social!
Check out the 🧵 below for a great summary!
"Attitudes toward Political Authoritarianism in Economically Advanced Democracies: The Role of Gender Values and Norms" by Amy C. Alexander & @gefjonoff.bsky.social!
Check out the 🧵 below for a great summary!
It’s a very intense two weeks! Thank you for giving it your all! Really excited to see your dissertation, work in print sometime soon, and will definitely be following the work that comes out of your postdoc!
June 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
It’s a very intense two weeks! Thank you for giving it your all! Really excited to see your dissertation, work in print sometime soon, and will definitely be following the work that comes out of your postdoc!
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Today was the last day of the EITM Summer School in Mannheim. I am so more knowledgeable, wise and much grateful to Prof. Thomas König for this opportunity, and to Prof. Thomas Bräuninger, Prof. Richard Traunmüller, Prof. @dzobrien.bsky.social & Prof. @fortunato.bsky.social for teaching all of us 🙏🏼
June 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Today was the last day of the EITM Summer School in Mannheim. I am so more knowledgeable, wise and much grateful to Prof. Thomas König for this opportunity, and to Prof. Thomas Bräuninger, Prof. Richard Traunmüller, Prof. @dzobrien.bsky.social & Prof. @fortunato.bsky.social for teaching all of us 🙏🏼
🚨 New Cambridge Element! Glass Ceilings, Glass Cliffs, and Quicksands by Andrea S. Aldrich & @zeynsom.bsky.social uses original data from 11 democracies (1980–2020) to examine how gender shapes party leadership selection & survival. Free for 2 more days: cup.org/3HqJXty #gender #politics
June 17, 2025 at 1:28 PM
🚨 New Cambridge Element! Glass Ceilings, Glass Cliffs, and Quicksands by Andrea S. Aldrich & @zeynsom.bsky.social uses original data from 11 democracies (1980–2020) to examine how gender shapes party leadership selection & survival. Free for 2 more days: cup.org/3HqJXty #gender #politics
Congratulations to Dr. @ietchacq.bsky.social! She's such a tenacious, ambitious, and brilliant young scholar, and I'm lucky to have been able to play some small part in her Ph.D. journey! Keep a look out for her great CP work on the representation of marginalized groups!
A few weeks ago, we returned to Houston to celebrate my graduation.
I wouldn’t have done it without her.
I’m grateful for your continued support, mentorship, and many teachings, @dzobrien.bsky.social. Honored to have shared my journey with you!
I wouldn’t have done it without her.
I’m grateful for your continued support, mentorship, and many teachings, @dzobrien.bsky.social. Honored to have shared my journey with you!
June 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Congratulations to Dr. @ietchacq.bsky.social! She's such a tenacious, ambitious, and brilliant young scholar, and I'm lucky to have been able to play some small part in her Ph.D. journey! Keep a look out for her great CP work on the representation of marginalized groups!
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Including:
Gendered jobs and local leaders by @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social Fellow @rivb.bsky.social and @mirya.bsky.social
Also available as an ebook: solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/permalink/44...
Gendered jobs and local leaders by @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social Fellow @rivb.bsky.social and @mirya.bsky.social
Also available as an ebook: solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/permalink/44...
May 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Including:
Gendered jobs and local leaders by @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social Fellow @rivb.bsky.social and @mirya.bsky.social
Also available as an ebook: solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/permalink/44...
Gendered jobs and local leaders by @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social Fellow @rivb.bsky.social and @mirya.bsky.social
Also available as an ebook: solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/permalink/44...
Reposted by Diana O'Brien
Want to hear more from fantastic EGEN scholars? Follow this starter pack!
go.bsky.app/SeabEZc
go.bsky.app/SeabEZc
May 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Want to hear more from fantastic EGEN scholars? Follow this starter pack!
go.bsky.app/SeabEZc
go.bsky.app/SeabEZc