The representation of women in African legislatures and cabinets: An examination with reference to Ghana

Adams, Melinda and Scherpereel, John and Jacob, Suraj (2016) The representation of women in African legislatures and cabinets: An examination with reference to Ghana. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 37 (2). pp. 145-167. ISSN 1554-477X

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Abstract

Why do some countries with low levels of women’s legislative representation have high levels of women’s cabinet representation? We focus on sub-Saharan Africa to show that countries with high levels of women’s legislative representation do not necessarily have high levels of women’s cabinet representation and discuss how legislative laggards can emerge as cabinet leaders through a case study of Ghana. We argue that three factors—a conducive institutional environment, an international context stressing gender-balanced decision making, and an autonomous domestic women’s movement—promote women’s incorporation into cabinets, even when pathways to legislative incorporation remain blocked.

Item Type:	Article
Authors:	Adams, Melinda and Scherpereel, John and Jacob, Suraj
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Women’s political representation, cabinets, executive-legislative relations, Ghana
Subjects:	Social sciences > Political Science > Civil & political rights
Divisions:	Azim Premji University > School of Development
Full Text Status:	Restricted
Related URLs:	Google Scholar
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/141
Publisher URL:	http://doi.org/10.1080/1554477X.2016.1152830

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