Women as Leaders — From the Local to National Level

Over the past two decades, the number of women ascending to positions of political leadership has grown significantly. The number of women holding their country’s highest executive position has tripled from 5 to 15, while women are present at the helm of many local and subnational governments. Women are shaping policies at every level of government. Despite gains, questions about how women access political leadership and their impact as leaders persist. Do recent gains mean women confront fewer barriers, or do they continue to face more difficult or precarious electoral conditions, or a higher standard for qualification? Do they face voter bias or more stereotypic media coverage than their male counterparts? 
 
This panel seeks papers that explore the topic of women’s political leadership at all levels of government and from diverse vantage points. We are open to the full range of methodological approaches and regional perspectives. Papers may seek to answer any number of questions. Possible topics include: the presence and impact of women executives; women’s leadership in cabinets or legislative committees; women’s leadership on boards and commissions and in local politics; women as leaders in subnational governments;  intersectional analyses of women’s leadership; gendered analyses of political opportunity structures and careers; or gendered perceptions of leadership.