GENDER COMPOSITION AND GENDER REPRESENTATION IN LOCAL UNIONS - RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL OFFICE AND WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL-ACTIVITIES

This study examined the influence of gender features of local union of fice (N = 37) on women's and men's ratings to participate in local act ivities(N = 414). Gender proportion in local office was indexed by gen der composition (the relative proportion of women and men in local off ice) and by gender representation (the ratio of the proportion of wome n in local office to the proportion of local women). Women's ratings o f their competence and opportunity to participate in local activities were higher in locals with a higher composition of women in office. Si milarly, women's ratings of their opportunity and desire to participat e were positively related to greater representation of women in office . In contrast, men's ratings were only slightly influenced by these lo cal features but in some cases were negatively affected. The findings are discussed in terms of improving the proportion of women and men in office to enhance women's participation in local activities.