This paper examines three alternative explanations for the relationship between gender and participation that focus upon: (1) childhood socialization, (2) adult role socialization and (3) structural factors of socioeconomic status. The data analysis of the Verba-Nie study of political participation in America finds some support for all three models, suggesting that the linkages between gender and participation are influences by a complex set of factors. Evidently, the adult role socializaiton and structural perspectives provide a more sophisticated elaboration of childhood socialization theory by specifying conditions that modify the strength of socialization into traditional female roles.