Differences in Male and Female Political Communication: A Literature Review on the Specifics of Nonverbal Communication of Women in Politics

The following text reviews literature on nonverbal communication of women in politics. Our analysis is primarily centred on studies published between 2005 and 2020. The majority of research in the studies covers short periods of time, ranging from several months to one year, and is focused on the Western world. The findings suggest women politicians use a specific type of communication, the so-called mixed model of communication, which includes "female" nonverbal and "male" verbal communication. Contrary to the assumptions, however, voters appreciate this relatively contradictory way of communication, and are critical, on the other hand, if the communication of women politicians is too "masculine". The findings suggest that gender stereotypes use in politics may be beneficial for women politicians.