Gender and Politics

This section is proposed by the Women and Politics Standing Group and comprises ten panels. It will explore the most recent developments in the field of gender and politics, both theoretical and practical. The panels address local, national and transnational political structures, exploring gender and governance in relation to parliaments, wider political formations in civil society, and beyond the nation-state. The first three panels (1-3) focus on women’s representation within national parliaments, exploring the substantive and descriptive representation of women, focusing on how theory translates into empirical research in relation to these issues. The next panel (4) look at ways in which the state is changing, both in terms of state restructuring and constitutional change, and consider the implications of these changes for gender relations. Panels 5-6 extend the focus of the political, exploring the media and manifestos in relation to gender. Panels 7-8 take two of the central normative debates within feminist theory – the relation between gender equality, cultural difference and care - and explore current developments. Finally the last two panels (9-10) take a more international focus, addressing international institutions, international political economy and globalisation from gender perspectives. A round table EU Sex Equality Policy chaired by Professor Joni Lovenduski is taking place. Proposals for papers should be sent directly to the relevant panel chair, at the e-mail address given in the panels section.