Intersections of Exclusion: The Institutional Dynamics of Combined Gender and Ethnic Quota Systems

Research in Progress Seminar (RIPS)

Hosted by the Department of Political Science

Presents

Dr. Karen Bird

Associate Professor

Political Science, McMaster University

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

3:30 p.m. in KTH-B108

Intersections of Exclusion: The Institutional Dynamics of Combined Gender and Ethnic Quota Systems

This talk presents a new avenue of inquiry into the politics of intersectionality, in the domain of electoral reform and political representation. Focusing on 17 countries that employ quotas/reservations for both women and ethnic minorities in elections to national parliament, I show that there are rarely representational gains for those located at the intersection of the two quota mechanisms. This is because quotas for women and minorities are rarely “nested.” Rather they tend to operate independently, often through entirely separate contests to fill the parliamentary seats allotted to each group. Beyond developing a clearer specification of the rules and mechanical effects of electoral quota systems, I apply a feminist institutionalist (FI) framework to gain greater insight into the informal dynamics that contribute to minority women’s persistent under-representation in a variety of contexts. Finally, I sketch an agenda for transformative action and institutional reform to advance the political inclusion of ethnic minority women.

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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Research in Progress Seminar (RIPS)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hosted by the Department of Political Science</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Presents</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dr. Karen Bird</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Associate Professor</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Political Science, McMaster University</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tuesday, October 27, 2015 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>3:30 p.m. in KTH-B108</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Intersections of Exclusion: The Institutional Dynamics of Combined Gender and Ethnic Quota Systems

</em></strong></p>
This talk presents a new avenue of inquiry into the politics of intersectionality, in the domain of electoral reform and political representation. Focusing on 17 countries that employ quotas/reservations for <em>both</em> women and ethnic minorities in elections to national parliament, I show that there are rarely representational gains for those located at the intersection of the two quota mechanisms. This is because quotas for women and minorities are rarely “nested.” Rather they tend to operate independently, often through entirely separate contests to fill the parliamentary seats allotted to each group. Beyond developing a clearer specification of the rules and mechanical effects of electoral quota systems, I apply a feminist institutionalist (FI) framework to gain greater insight into the informal dynamics that contribute to minority women’s persistent under-representation in a variety of contexts. Finally, I sketch an agenda for transformative action and institutional reform to advance the political inclusion of ethnic minority women.

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