Political parties, women’s organizations and gender quota

Abstract

Across the world more and more states establish some form of gender quotas. Even in states that were reluctant to have any form of “preferential” treatment for women (such as were the Central and Eastern Europe countries) the combination between a favorable gender equality climate, women’s mobilization and political parties’ will has led to 15 states establishing quotas. Romania has only (inefficient) voluntary political parties’ quotas and one of the lowest levels of women elected worldwide. When quotas are needed who and why can be more successful in pushing for their establishment? This article’s thesis is that women’s organizations inside political parties can be successful in their mobilization to establish quotas because they can use both pragmatic and normative reasons.