Political Attitudes Among Urban, English-Educated Men and Women in Contemporary India: A Comparative Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

This qualitative study compares political attitudes between men (N = 25) and women (N = 25) residing in urban, English-educated settings in northern India, drawn primarily from Punjab and the Delhi NCR region. Using open-ended questionnaires and thematic analysis, the study moves beyond electoral turnout data to examine how gender shapes political ideology, policy priorities, and conceptual understandings of democracy and social justice. Coded responses were converted into quantitative frequency summaries to permit structured comparison across groups. The study found some differences between men and women. 68% of men, as compared to 44% women identified as being neutral in terms of ideology – they were neither leftist nor right-leaning. There was also a difference in ideologies about social issues. 72% women supported the rights of LGBTQ+ people, while in the case of men, this figure was 28%. Interestingly, men and women were almost at par when questioned about being cynical about politics. 52% of men and 48% women said they are cynical. Both men and women think it is very important for leaders to be honest. 84% men and women said this. The study also found that men and women care about issues. Men care more about the economy and national security; while women care more about ensuring gender equality and the freedom to make choices. Finally, men and women have views on women in politics. Both genders were not in favour of politics based on a person’s identity. These patterns are interpreted through the Dual Pathways Model of Gendered Political Attitude Formation, which argues that men and women in urban India tend to develop distinct political opinions through different socialization routes. A ‘masculine public pathway’ oriented toward macro-political management, and a feminine private-public pathway oriented toward everyday experiences of inequality. Importantly, the study shows a notable demographic asymmetry: the female sample had a substantially higher mean age (40.54 years) than the male sample (48% of whom were aged 18–30). This age-cohort difference is systematically addressed as a potential confounding variable alongside gender throughout the analysis. Findings are restricted to the study's sample and should not be generalized to the Indian population at large.