Sweden's general election in September is shaping up to be a contest between the Social Democrats, led by Magdalena Andersson, and the far-right Sweden Democrats, led by Jimmie Åkesson. However, a widening gender gap means that which party voters choose increasingly depends on their gender.
Record Gender Gap in Voting Intentions
A recent survey by Statistics Sweden found that twice as many men as women support the Sweden Democrats, while female support for the Social Democrats is 10 percentage points higher than its male equivalent. If only women voted, the left-leaning bloc would gain 64% of the vote; if only men voted, the right-leaning bloc would get 51%.
Lena Wängnerud, a political science professor at the University of Gothenburg, said the gender divide has been growing since the 1970s, but the Sweden Democrats have recently replaced the centre-right Moderates as the main choice for men. Her research shows men in the private sector are most inclined to vote rightwing, driven by support for lower taxes, a smaller public sector, and less immigration. Women, she notes, rely more on a well-functioning welfare state due to their primary caregiving responsibilities.
Voter Perspectives on the Divide
Nelly Ailo, 41, a pharmacy assistant in Södertälje, said male voters prioritize economics: “First it is economics – what is better for them. They vote about economics. Not ‘is it good for people? Is it good for children?’ No, no, no. For them it is high salaries, low tax on petrol.”
Ermias Balcha, 23, who works in assisted housing, disagrees. He says conditions for the unemployed and homeless have worsened under the current government. “It gets worse and worse actually. There are people who are pensioners who hardly get any pension or pay.” He plans to vote for the Social Democrats but acknowledges the party could do more to appeal to men.
Party Support and Coalition Dynamics
If the election had been held in May, the Statistics Sweden survey found that 39% of women would vote for the Social Democrats compared with 29% of men. A quarter of men and 12% of women would vote for the Sweden Democrats. Kristersson’s Moderates came third with 17% support, without a significant gender gap.
The Social Democrats have been in opposition for four years after the rightwing bloc formed a minority government led by Ulf Kristersson, supported by the Sweden Democrats. If the centre-right coalition wins, Kristersson has pledged to bring the Sweden Democrats into government for the first time, offering them ministerial posts in immigration and integration.
Impact of Far-Right Influence
Observers say the Sweden Democrats have already shifted Swedish politics rightward, even affecting Social Democrat policies on immigration, integration, and crime. The concern among rightwing parties about female support has led to proposals like a six-month 50% discount on public transport and talk from male politicians about fertility and child-rearing.
Moska Hassas, chair of the Social Democrats youth association, called these efforts “humiliating”. “They are so desperate that they don’t know that young women also care about politics,” she said. “All the traditional values – that women should be in the kitchen, which we have heard from Tidö side, that women shouldn’t do conscription – it’s a sick backlash that they are turning back time.”
Among boys and young men, she sees disillusionment being exploited by extreme forces like far-right male-only clubs and criminal gangs. “This exploits these political forces in a very tragic way. It is very dangerous.”
