Gender Politics Introduction: Studying the Gender Gap in Politics

Gender politics is the interdisciplinary field of study that examines political science in the context of gender studies, analyzing how an individual’s political beliefs influence their gender identity. Scholars explore how society’s notions of gender influence the structure and function of political institutions. For example, a main area of study in the field aims to understand women’s political participation in public policy and political institutions that have a history of patriarchal systems.

The study of politics and gender can have a global perspective, as scholars use international relations as a point of context for examining gender differences worldwide. For instance, scholars Mona Lena Krook and Sarah Childs use a global lens to analyze women and politics around the world in their 2010 book Women, Gender, and Politics.

Across the globe, gender acts as a determinant of power relations, swaying individuals’ thoughts on political parties and candidate selection. The study of gender and politics aims to determine solutions for equalizing these power structures. Here is a brief look at key moments in the field’s evolution:

• Post World War II: Following the Second World War, many women did not want to return to the domestic sphere after assuming roles in the workplace; however, following the return of WWII soldiers, companies fired many women and replaced them with men. This triggered the women’s rights movement and a wave of political activism that began in the 1960s and lasted until the 1980s.
• Second-wave feminism: The second feminist movement built off of the women’s suffrage movement and focused on gender equality, as women advocated for equal work opportunities, reproductive rights, and additional legal rights. Second-wave feminism sought to combat the sexism within patriarchal structures that still dominated political institutions, gender stereotypes, and cultural forms of thought. It also engendered female empowerment and mobilization across the US, from New York to Washington, DC, and around the world, from Latin America to Europe.
• Establishment of the field: The second women’s movement catalyzed an examination of how societal structures dictated gender relations and caused gender inequalities, giving birth to the study of gender politics. By the mid-2000s, gender politics was a distinct subfield of political science. Today, the field is a significant point of study and has expanded by examining the intersectionality of other identity points, such as sexual orientation and ethnicity, and arguing women’s issues are a case of human rights activism.

The study of gender politics has led to social action across the globe by spreading awareness of gender gaps and offering solutions for these challenges. Although the work must continue, here are a few areas in which the field can claim wins:

• Awareness: Education is one of the first steps for initiating change, and the field of gender politics has led to a new wave of analyzing gender quotas in the context of political power. This increase in awareness has generated productive conversations and grassroots movements that aim to combat sexism and inequalities in politics.
• Social action: Improved policy-making and social activism are results of the advancement of gender politics. The study of women in politics has helped scholars highlight consequential elements of the dominant patriarchy. Gender mainstreaming is an important aspect of social action, as it aims to create a gender-equal environment within a polity and each stage of its political decision-making process.
• Political representation: Another impact of gender politics is improved gender diversity in political leadership. Spreading awareness about gender parity and inequalities creates more opportunities for women to become policy makers and close the gender gap in politics.

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