Methodological perspectives and innovations in the study of gender equality and gender sensitivity in parliaments

Abstract

This panel explores methodologies utilized in the study of gender equality and gender sensitivity in parliamentary contexts. Gender equality in parliaments has many dimensions, including women’s equal access to and their representation within parliament, inquiries into gendered lawmaking and scrutiny, and the implementation of rules and practices aimed at changing gender hierarchies in parliamentary organizations and workplaces. The latter also aligns with the notion of a ‘gender-sensitive parliament’, defined as an institution that “values and prioritises gender equality as a social, economic and political objective and reorients and transforms a parliament’s institutional culture, processes and practices, and outputs towards these objectives” (Childs and Palmieri 2023: 177). In recent years, gender equality and gender sensitivity in parliaments have evolved into important international norms. Related studies have produced valuable guides and assessment tools on how to make parliaments more gender equal/sensitive. Yet, substantial questions persist regarding the analytical approaches used across parliaments, what different measurements and methodologies tell us about the gendered nature of parliaments, and how different approaches relate to feminist and intersectional research methods. This panel will therefore reflect on the methodological considerations inherent in analyzing gender relations within and across parliaments. By facilitating a dialogue between different traditions, the panel will showcase a diverse array of innovative methodological approaches, including political ethnography, video analysis, in-depth interviews, and comparative analysis, and highlight their respective contributions to understanding and improving gender relations in parliamentary settings. This panel is sponsored by GenParlNet.

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