In person icon Young People in Public Office

Abstract

This panel focuses on a more recent line of inquiry, youth political representation. Over the last 5-10 years, young people’s absence from decision-making tables has become more apparent. This is both a result of changing demographics and a growing age gap between the represented and their representatives, continued silence of representatives to heed the calls of young activists, as well as increased recognition of the power of young people by international organizations. The underrepresentation of young people in the places where decisions are being made leads to a democratic deficit and can exacerbate attitudes of distrust and cynicism—the things that ultimately lead to youth alienation and disengagement from formal political participation. Therefore, this panel presents scholarship investigating topics such as, but not limited to: - Youth Candidate Selection - Voter Perceptions and Attitudes towards Young / Minority Candidates - Descriptive, Substantive, and Symbolic Representation Intersectionality

Title	Details
Youth Advantage vs. Gender Penalty. Selecting and Electing Young Candidates	View Paper Details
How Do Voters Evaluate the Age of Politicians?	View Paper Details
The substantive representation of youth	View Paper Details
What does it mean to be young in an ageing parliament?	View Paper Details
How the descriptive political representation of young people affects young women and men’s political engagement	View Paper Details