Why Are Gender Quota Laws Adopted by Men? The Role of Inter- and Intraparty Competition

Abstract

In nearly every case of quota law adoption, the support of party elites is critical. But this raises a puzzle: What can motivate predominantly male elites to put these policies in place? This article uses a comparison of two sets of matched pair countries—similar on background characteristics except for quota adoption—to explore the motivations and role of male party elites in quota reform. The cases of Belgium and Austria, and Portugal and Italy highlight two key explanations. First, quota laws are likely to be supported and passed by parties threatened by a new, more progressive competitor on the left, as a way of claiming women voters back from the encroaching party (interparty competition). Second, quotas can be employed as a mechanism for party elites to gain power over candidate selection within their own parties in the face of entrenched local party monopolies (intraparty competition).

Equality prescribed? Contextual determinants of citizens’ support for gender boardroom quotas across Europe

“…Over the last years, an increasing number of studies has focussed on the determinants and effects of political gender quotas for parliaments or party list positions (e.g. Barnes and Córdova 2016;Beauregard 2017;Kroeber et al 2018;Ruedin 2012;Weeks 2018). These quotas have been implemented to ensure the representativeness in the democratic process.…”

Informal institutions and gendered candidate selection in Brazilian parties

“…The extensive literature on institutional change emphasizes that altering the formal rules is not only difficult, but even when "successful" may be insufficient to disrupt the status quo (Mahoney and Thelen, 2009). Particularly when reforms stand to redistribute power, actors will resist change, and in the face of change, will develop mechanisms for attenuating their impact (Catalano Weeks, 2018;Gatto, 2016;Mackay, 2014;Mahoney and Thelen, 2009;Valdini, 2019;Waylen, 2014).…”

“…While all instances of electoral reform arguably have gendered consequences in that they affect the allocation of power, gender is clearly central to understanding gender equity reforms such as quotas. Not only do quotas aim to seat women, but they are mediated by gendered actors and spaces, and their implementation and enforcement may at once affect and be affected by intraparty power struggles (Catalano Weeks, 2018;Krook, 2015).…”

The Effects of Women Officeholders on Environmental Policy

“…As such, within political parties, men as well as women may be the agents promoting policies of concern to women, if they operate in a legislative context characterized by greater gender equality. Similarly, as women's political representation increases, men in leadership positions have the incentive to focus on issues of concern to women in order to win votes, gain legislative support, and/or promote party unity (Weeks, ). In these instances, parties may advance policy of concern to women without women necessarily being the direct agents of change.…”