About
Jessica Smith is an Associate Professor in Politics within the Department of Politics and International Relations. She studies the sources and consequences of bias in our political systems, from what voters think to how our institutions operate. Her work centres on centres on gender, electoral politics, representation and political leadership with a focus on British politics.
Jessica is the founder and Co-Director of the Gender and Inequalities (GAIN) Research Centre at Southampton.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Political behaviour and gender-based stereotyping
- Executive politics
- British politics
- Political recruitment and representation
- Gender, politics and the media
Current research
Information on current research can be found on Jessica's website here.
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Researchers:
Sponsor: British Academy
Publications
14 publications
Page 1 of 2
Lotte Hargrave, Jessica C. Smith, Viktor Valgarðsson, Daniel Devine, Hannah Bunting & Caroline Leicht,
2025, Electoral Studies
Type: article
John Boswell, Jessica Smith, Daniel Devine & Jack Corbett,
2024, Public Administration, 102(4), 1665-1680
DOI: 10.1111/padm.12994
Type: article
Jessica C. Smith,
2024, European Journal of Political Research
Type: article
Daniel J. Devine, Viktor Orri Valgarðsson, Jessica Smith, William Jennings, Michele Scotto Di Vettimo, Hannah Bunting & Lawrence Mckay,
2023, Journal of European Public Policy
Type: article
Lotte Hargrave & Jessica C. Smith,
2023, Political Behavior
Type: article
Jessica Smith,
2022, Journal of European Public Policy
Type: article
Jessica C. Smith,
2021, Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties, 31(4), 450-469
Type: article
Hannah Willis, Jessica C. Smith & Daniel Devine,
2021, Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 31(S1), 232-244
Type: article
Teaching
Jessica teaches on the department's first year methods modules and British politics module.
She also teaches specialised modules on gender politics and political psychology.
Biography
Prizes
- Political Studies Association McDougall Trust Prize 2020 Winner, Best Dissertation in Elections, Electoral Systems and Representation (2020)
- SUSU Most Engaging Lecturer Faculty of Social Science (2021)
- Lecturer of the Year (2022)
- Political Studies Association McDougall Trust Prize 2020 Winner, Best Dissertation in Elections, Electoral Systems and Representation (2020)
- SUSU Most Engaging Lecturer Faculty of Social Science (2021)
- Lecturer of the Year (2022)
- PSA Joni Lovenduski Prize for Outstanding Professional Achievement by an Early Career Scholar (2025)