Why have radical right parties been more successful in attracting male voters than female voters? In this paper we explore explanations for the gender gap in the radical right vote. We argue that one of the main factors influencing the radical right gender gap is the difference in the occupational structure between male and female workers.

Men are more likely to work and be in jobs in which they may feel threatened by globalization and/or immigration. In order to understand the gender gap in the vote for far right parties, we explore the voting behavior of women, the relationship of women to radical right parties, and gender differences in the structure of occupations.

We have tested two hypotheses. The first proposed that there is a difference between men and women and their attitudes toward immigration. The second proposed that occupational structure influenced the number of women who voted for the far right. We expected to find that women would be less likely to have negative attitudes toward immigrants. We found that men and women have similar attitudes toward immigrants or non-EU nationals. The first hypothesis, that women would have different attitudes, cannot be supported. Although women may feel the same as men in relation to immigration, these attitudes do not translate into support for radical right parties. Our second hypothesis that women vote differently due to different occupational profiles may have more merit. We examine survey data that indicates that women who vote for the radical right are more likely to be blue-collar workers than women in general. The profile of women who vote for the radical right is similar to that of male radical right voters. If we could control for the difference in occupational structure, the radical right gender gap would be reduced.