Gender and Politics
Summary
Over the past half-century, the study of gender and politics has illuminated how structures, norms and institutions shape the political representation and participation of women and marginalised gender groups. Despite remarkable gains in many democracies—with women now comprising around thirty per cent of national legislatures in OECD countries—gender gaps persist in candidacy rates, leadership roles and policy influence. Cultural stereotypes about leadership, informal party hierarchies and unequal access to campaign finance continue to impede parity, while electoral systems and legislative quotas have proven decisive where they are robustly enforced. Beyond descriptive representation, attention has shifted to substantive representation: the capacity of women and gender minorities to advance policy agendas on issues such as healthcare, family leave and gender-based violence. Intersectional approaches have further revealed the compound disadvantages faced by racialised women, LGBTQ+ candidates and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. At the same time, research on allyship, recruitment pathways and the role of social networks underscores the complex mechanisms through which gender dynamics operate. Comparative studies show that proportional representation systems paired with enforceable quotas tend to yield faster increases in women’s representation, whereas majoritarian systems often reinforce incumbency advantages for men. As contemporary movements continue to challenge machismo in political parties and scholars explore the impact of gender balance on policy outcomes, the field remains crucial to understanding inclusive governance and democratic legitimacy.
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Gender and Politics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gender and politics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Descriptive representation: The numerical presence of a demographic group (e.g. women) within an elected body.
Substantive representation: The extent to which elected officials advocate for and enact policies that reflect the interests of a particular group.
Gender quota: A legal or regulatory requirement mandating a minimum proportion of women among party candidates or office-holders.
Incumbency advantage: The electoral benefit enjoyed by sitting office-holders, often resulting in higher re-election rates than challengers.
Electoral system: The set of rules by which votes are translated into seats in a legislature, including majoritarian and proportional methods.
References
- Are minorities in politics held to a higher standard? Experimental & observational evidence from candidate selection. Journal of European Public Policy (2024).
- Gender and Political Seniority: Three Measures. Politics & Gender (2023).
- Payments and Penalties for Democracy: Gendered Electoral Financing in Action Worldwide. American Political Science Review (2021).
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