WOMEN, GENDER AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
One Day Workshop
Friday 15 May 2015
Birkbeck, University of London
Call for Papers
The study of leadership is a growing area of political studies. However, the issue of
gender and leadership remains relatively understudied. The increasing prominence of female leadership and recruitment, from the major parties in Scotland to the US Presidential race, has given the discussion a new urgency and importance. This event, coming so soon after the general election, will examine in detail the challenges for women in office and the means by which they can attain it.
This one day symposium will examine how gender can influence leadership and how political leadership influences and sets barriers for aspiring women leaders. The workshop will examine case study and comparative evidence as to how gender can influence public office holders, asking questions such as:
- What are the particular obstacles than female leaders face when in power?
- Do female leaders ‘perform’ leadership in different ways?
- Does women’s political leadership result in ‘women-friendly’ policy outcomes?
- How do female leaders compare in terms of experience, achievement and longevity with male counterparts?
The workshop will also examine the key related issue of recruitment.
- How does gender affect patterns of recruitment to political office? How do these patterns vary or shift over time?
- Does gendered access to cabinet or executive leadership positions differ from that of legislative positions?
- How have innovations such as gender quotas worked to aid or inhibit recruitment?
The organisers encourage papers on any of the above themes and others relating to women, gender and political leadership.
Please send an abstract of up to 300 words to Amarjit Lahel by 31 March 2015. The workshop is jointly organised by the PSA Political Leadership Specialist Group and the PSA Women and Politics Specialist Group. It will be supported by Birkbeck University and Canterbury Christ Church University. Any queries contact Dr Mark Bennister or Dr Meryl Kenny