Exploring the influence of dominant masculinity on women political leadership in political parties

• Main Author: Aminudin, Rabi'ah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: JA Political science (General); JQ Political institutions Asia; JQ715 Politics and Government in Malaysia
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/104613/20/Rabi%27ah%20Mohd.%20Amin.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/104613/2/TENTATIVE%20PROGRAMME%20SIDIC.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/104613/4/SIDIC%202023%20RABIAH%20AMINUDIN.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/104613/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

The study investigates the continuous domination of masculine traits in political institutions, specifically political parties in Malaysia, to understand how masculinity is constructed and perpetuated within political parties. This study undertook a content analysis of political parties’ constitutions and interviewed 30 politicians representing different demographic groups such as political parties, gender, and age. The study expects that dominant masculinity in political parties influences the low rate of female political leadership through 1) the formal political structure that divides men and women through the creation of women’s wings and 2) the informal rules which hinder women from being politically active at higher levels such as the patronage system. This study indicates that female political leadership could be improved by reforming political parties’ culture and structures to be more friendly and inclusive towards women.