Gender and Politics Glossary

A 1995 UN document setting strategic objectives for women's empowerment across 12 critical areas including political participation.

The hypothesis that a minority group must reach approximately 30 percent of a legislature to meaningfully influence policy.

The extent to which elected officials mirror the demographic characteristics of the population, especially regarding gender.

The dilemma facing women politicians who are judged negatively whether they conform to or defy traditional gender expectations.

A theoretical approach examining how formal and informal institutional rules and norms are gendered and reproduce inequality.

Feminist activism from the late 1800s to early 1900s focused on legal rights, especially suffrage and property rights.

The measurable difference in political preferences, participation rates, or policy priorities between men and women.

Integrating a gender perspective into all stages of policy design, implementation, and evaluation across all government sectors.

A formal mechanism mandating a minimum percentage of candidates or officeholders of a particular gender.

Violence directed at individuals based on their gender, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and political harassment.

Media tendency to emphasize women politicians' appearance and personal life while focusing on male politicians' policy positions.

An invisible barrier preventing women and minorities from reaching the highest levels of political or organizational leadership.

A framework analyzing how overlapping social identities such as race, gender, class, and sexuality create interconnected systems of discrimination.

The study of how norms of masculinity shape political leadership, voter behavior, militarism, and attitudes toward gender equality.

Legislation requiring equal numbers of male and female candidates in elections, as adopted by France in 2000.

The research finding that women are less likely than equally qualified men to consider running for political office.

The process by which individuals acquire political attitudes, values, and behaviors, shaped by gendered norms from family, education, and media.

Legal rights related to reproduction and reproductive health, including contraception and abortion access.

Legislative seats set aside exclusively for women or other underrepresented groups to guarantee minimum representation.

Feminist movement from the 1960s through the 1980s addressing workplace discrimination, reproductive autonomy, and structural inequality.

Acting in the policy interests of a group regardless of the representative's own demographic identity.

The legal right to vote in political elections, historically denied to women in most countries until the twentieth century.

Feminist movement beginning in the 1990s emphasizing intersectionality, individual identity, and diversity within feminism.

A 2000 UN Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security, calling for women's participation in peace processes and conflict prevention.

A gender quota mechanism in party lists that alternates male and female candidates to ensure equal placement.