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Gender, political representation and symbolic capital: how some women politicians succeed

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  • Ceridwen Spark
  • John Cox
  • Jack Corbett

Abstract

Increasing women’s representation in national legislatures has become a priority for international organisations and aid donors in recent decades. Existing studies emphasise structural barriers, whether economic, cultural or religious, that inhibit women’s participation in the public sphere. Little attention is paid to women who defy these barriers to win election in contexts that are hostile to their presence. This article addresses this gap. Using a Bourdieusian approach, it shows how three senior women leaders from the Pacific Islands translate symbolic capital into political capital. For donors and would-be reformers, the lesson is that institutional interventions must be implemented in ways which allow women’s symbolic capital to be deployed as political capital, or which enhance women’s control of various forms of capital. This message is particularly relevant for those interested in the capacity of quotas and other temporary measures to translate descriptive representation into substantive developmental gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Ceridwen Spark & John Cox & Jack Corbett, 2019. "Gender, political representation and symbolic capital: how some women politicians succeed," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(7), pages 1227-1245, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:40:y:2019:i:7:p:1227-1245
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2019.1604132
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    Cited by:

    1. Maribel Guerrero & Roseline Wanjiru, 2021. "Entrepreneurial migrants from/in emerging economies: breaking taboos and stereotypes," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 477-506, June.
    2. Chris Roche & John Cox & Mereani Rokotuibau & Peni Tawake & Yeshe Smith, 2020. "The Characteristics of Locally Led Development in the Pacific," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 136-146.
    3. Kerryn Baker & Jack Corbett, 2023. "Gender and Opposition Leadership in the Pacific Islands," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(1), pages 130-140.

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