Political parties are gendered spaces where both formal rules and informal norms shape the experiences of women candidates. With a mixed-methods approach, this study unpacks the interplay between “official” party rules and “real” party practices, advancing our understanding of intra-party determinants of women’s descriptive representation.
By examining 227 political parties across 32 democracies, it provides robust, cross-national insights into how intra-party factors affect women’s candidacies and their campaign experiences. First, through a large-N analysis, the study reveals that inclusive candidate selection procedures, when paired with gender equality rules, significantly increase the share of women candidates. These effects are especially pronounced in parties with substantial female leadership and membership, highlighting the institutional levers that can advance gender parity in representation.
Second, a case study of the 2023 Dutch local elections combines semi-structured interviews with women candidates from ten political parties and participant observation during electoral campaigns. Our novel data uncovers informal dynamics—such as entrenched gender norms and power asymmetries—that formal rules alone cannot address. The integration of quantitative data, elite interviews and ethnographic data highlights the methodological contribution of the study, as it enhances causal identification and offers a comprehensive framework to analyze the contrast between stated party rules and the experiences of women candidates.
By examining how intra-party practices shape women’s access to political office, we underscore actionable strategies to address persistent gender inequalities within political parties and, consequently, to advance democratic inclusivity. The findings emphasize the critical role of the party organization in transforming political institutions toward gender equity.