Preparing for elite political participation: Simulations and the politicalsocialization of adolescents

Objective. We ask: How do socialization experiences shape adolescent percep tions of and the performance of gender in political leadership roles? We ex amine a political simulation, Model United Nations, which attracts academic ally motivated students aspiring to elite roles in politics and government. Methods. Using observational and survey data, we explore adolescent behavi or in the simulation as both a learning experience and as a reflection of s tudents' perceptions of leadership behavior. Results. Three critical observ ations emerge. First, the Model United Nations is a domain in which young w omen do not play an equal part. Female delegates take far fewer speaking tu rns. However, contextual factors, including membership on a committee that deals with less masculine issues and on a committee with a female chair, in crease the likelihood of female turn-taking. Second, though participants co me to the event with very similar motivations, young women leave less satis fied with their personal effectiveness than do young men. Finally, female d elegates are judged less favorably by themselves and others and thus as les s successful in the simulation. Conclusions. These findings have normative implications for the recruitment of young women to politics.