The number of women chosen as leader by their parties at the provincial and federal levels in Canada has increased in recent years. The improving trend in their selection does not, however, appear to be matched by the nature of their exits. In 2014, three of five sitting women premiers – Kathy Dunderdale, Alison Redford and Pauline Marois – resigned their posts after relatively brief tenures and particularly harsh treatment from their parties, the media and public. Using data on over 180 party leaders between 1980 and 2014, we examine whether the manner in which party leaders exit their posts is gendered. Is there a glass cliff for women party leaders in Canada? Are women party leaders in a more precarious position than men, and at a greater risk of failure and criticism? Specifically we seek to develop a typology of ‘exit types’ that will allow for a comparative evaluation of how, when and why party leader exit their posts.
