Quotas and intersectionality: Ethnicity and gender in candidate selection. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Celis, Karen; Erzeel, Silvia; Mügge, Liza; Damstra, Alyt
• Other Names: Krook Mona Lena guest-editor.; Zetterberg Pär guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International political science review. Volume 35:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Candidate selection -- ethnicity -- gender -- gender quotas -- intersectionality -- political representation; Political science -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0192512113507733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0192-5121

Abstract

Gender equality is not fully realised when it is restricted to ethnic majority men and women. This article examines how gender quotas as a form of equality policy affect ethnic minority groups, in particular, the gender balance among ethnic minority candidates for political office. Our analysis focuses on the selection of ethnic minority candidates in Belgium, where legally binding quotas exist, and in the Netherlands, where they do not. Drawing on 23 interviews with central actors in four main parties in each country, we find that the process of ethnic minority candidate selection is highly gendered: in both countries, ethnic minority women are represented in larger numbers than ethnic minority men. But gender quotas play a lesser role in this than the more general concern for diversity on electoral lists, the institutionalisation of gender/ethnicity within political parties and the strategic choices of party leaders.