Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil
BackgroundThe medical literature has demonstrated that macro-variables and social factors can influence suicide rates. Additionally, social science literature has shown that women in prominent political positions (such as mayors) can influence the behavior of other women. The purpose of our work is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1513669/full |
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| author | Gabriela Gerote Arvate Paulo Arvate Adriano Massuda Raffael Massuda Rifat Atun |
| author_facet | Gabriela Gerote Arvate Paulo Arvate Adriano Massuda Raffael Massuda Rifat Atun |
| author_sort | Gabriela Gerote Arvate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe medical literature has demonstrated that macro-variables and social factors can influence suicide rates. Additionally, social science literature has shown that women in prominent political positions (such as mayors) can influence the behavior of other women. The purpose of our work is to demonstrate that women in such positions reduce suicide rates within a group affected by gender inequality: married women.MethodologyWe use regression discontinuity methodology and quasi-experimental electoral designs (elections with a margin of victory very close to zero) to ensure causal inference between the election of women and suicide rates among married women.Principal findingsMunicipalities that elected women as mayors have 1.33 fewer suicides among married women per 100,000 inhabitants compared to those that elected men as mayors.ConclusionThese results offer new insights into how empowered women can challenge social norms and improve public health outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61792195c96542f49553761620489778 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-61792195c96542f495537616204897782025-01-13T15:35:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.15136691513669Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in BrazilGabriela Gerote Arvate0Paulo Arvate1Adriano Massuda2Raffael Massuda3Rifat Atun4Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, BrazilSão Paulo School of Business Administration - Getulio Vargas Foundation, São Paulo, BrazilSão Paulo School of Business Administration - Getulio Vargas Foundation, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilHarvard Center for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United StatesBackgroundThe medical literature has demonstrated that macro-variables and social factors can influence suicide rates. Additionally, social science literature has shown that women in prominent political positions (such as mayors) can influence the behavior of other women. The purpose of our work is to demonstrate that women in such positions reduce suicide rates within a group affected by gender inequality: married women.MethodologyWe use regression discontinuity methodology and quasi-experimental electoral designs (elections with a margin of victory very close to zero) to ensure causal inference between the election of women and suicide rates among married women.Principal findingsMunicipalities that elected women as mayors have 1.33 fewer suicides among married women per 100,000 inhabitants compared to those that elected men as mayors.ConclusionThese results offer new insights into how empowered women can challenge social norms and improve public health outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1513669/fullgender inequalitysocial normsmarried women’s suiciderole model womenregression discontinuity design |
| spellingShingle | Gabriela Gerote Arvate Paulo Arvate Adriano Massuda Raffael Massuda Rifat Atun Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil Frontiers in Public Health gender inequality social norms married women’s suicide role model women regression discontinuity design |
| title | Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil |
| title_full | Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil |
| title_short | Can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil |
| title_sort | can role model women in politics help married women reduce suicides evidence from a quasi experimental study in brazil |
| topic | gender inequality social norms married women’s suicide role model women regression discontinuity design |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1513669/full |
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