Study: Men listen less attentively to women in the Landtag - Arizona lawmakers ignore female colleagues during speeches, study reveals

A new study has found that lawmakers in Arizona's state legislature pay less attention to female colleagues during speeches. The research analysed over 1,000 speeches and revealed a clear gap in focus, with men showing reduced engagement when women speak. Experts describe the findings as concerning for democratic fairness and respect in political debate.

The study used specialised software to evaluate videos of speeches given in Phoenix. On average, male lawmakers paid nearly six percentage points less attention to female speakers. This translates to about 18 seconds of reduced focus during a five-minute speech.

The disparity remained even after researchers adjusted for factors like the time of day or speech length. Notably, the lack of attention came entirely from male representatives—women in the chamber listened equally to both male and female speakers.

During the examined legislative period, women made up 26 percent of the legislature, a figure that later rose to nearly 33 percent. Muhterem Aras, the legislature's president, suggested that differences in speaking styles—such as women being less loud or confrontational—might play a role. However, the study's authors admitted they could not fully explain why men were less attentive.

Aras stressed that attentive listening is vital for democratic culture. She argued that women deserve the same level of respect as their male counterparts in political discussions.

The findings highlight a persistent imbalance in how female lawmakers are treated during debates. With no clear explanation for the behaviour, the study raises questions about unconscious bias in political settings. The results also underscore the need for greater awareness to ensure equal participation in democratic processes.