POL612 Women and politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lenka Hrbková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Lucie Bohdalová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 15:15–16:45 U41
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course will give students an overview of the current state of knowledge about the role of gender in politics. We will discuss what it means to be political represented, what is the actual quality of women's representation in politics, their access to political offices, parties, candidacy, leadership, attitudes, and their general role in the policy making process. The course reflects current research on the topic of women in politics, deals with the situation in the Czech Republic and other countries as well. Student's perspectives on the state of women in politics in different countries will be appreciated.
Learning outcomes
Students will understand the relationship between gender and politics. They will learn key concepts and theories. They will gain skills to develop their own research.
Syllabus
  • Introduction. The state of women's representation today. History of women's fight for political rights Media, public opinion, and candidates Seminar: Representation of women's interests. Women's leadership Political parties and gender Quota Structural factors of gendered politics Women's voice in politics Central and Eastern Europe
Literature
    required literature
  • Cole, E. R. and Sabik, N. J. 2010. Associations between Femininity and Women's Political Behavior. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34, 506-520.
  • Kunovich. S. 2012. Unexpected Winners: The Significance of an Open-List System on Women's Representation in Poland. Politics and Gender, 8(2), 153-177.
  • Fox, R. L. and Lawless, J. L. 2004. Entering the Arena? Gender and the Decision to Run for Office. American Journal of Political Science, 48(2), 264-280.
  • Musilová, D. 2012. Mothers of the Nation: Women's Vote in the Czech Republic. In Blanca Rodriguez-Ruiz and Ruth Rubio-Marín. The Struggle for Female Suffrage in Europe. Leiden: Brill. p. 207-225.
  • Rubio-Marín, R. 2014. The achievement of female suffrage in Europe: on women's citizenship. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 12(1), 4-34.
  • Murray, R. 2014. Quotas for Men: Reframing Gender Quotas as a Means of Improving Representation for All. American Political Science Review, 108(3), 520-532.
  • Dahlerup, D. 1998. From a Small to a Large Minority: Women in Scandinavian Politics. Scandinavian Political Studies, 11(4), 257-298.
  • Huddy, L. and Terkildsen N. 1993. The Consequences of Gender Stereotypes for Women Candidates at Different Levels and Different types of Office. Political Research Quarterly, 46(3), 503-525.
  • Beckwith, K. 2011. Interests, Issues, and Preferences: Women's Interests and Epiphenomena of Activism. Politics and Gender, 7(3), 424-429.
  • Dovi, S. 2002. Preferable Descriptive Representatives: Will Just Any Woman, Black or Latino Do? American Political Science Review, 96(4), 729-743.
  • Kunovich, S. and Paxton, P. 2005. Pathways to Power: The Rope of Political Parties in Women's National Political Representation. American Journal of Sociology, 111(2), 505-552
  • Weldon, L. 2011. Perspectives Against Interests. Sketch of a Feminist Political Theory of "Women". Politics and Gender, 7(3), 441-446.
  • Campbell, R. and Childs. S. 2015. To the left, to the right: Representing conservative women's interests. Party Politics, 21(4): 626-637.
  • Reingold, B. and Swers, M. 2011. Endogenous Approach to Women's Interests: When Interests Are Interesting in and of Themselves. Politics and Gender, 7(3), 429-435.
  • KARPOWITZ, Christopher F. and Tali MENDELBERG. The silent sex : gender, deliberation, and institutions. Princeton: Princeton University press, 2014, xvi, 450. ISBN 9780691159768. info
  • Women, politics, and powera global perspective. Edited by Pamela Marie Paxton - Melanie M. Hughes. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE, 2013, 1 online. ISBN 9781452275482. info
    not specified
  • Montgomery, K.A. and Ilonszki, G. 2016. Stuck in the Basement: A Pathway Case Analysis of Female Recruitment in Hungary's 2010 National Assembly Elections. Politics and Gender, 12(4), 700-726.
Teaching methods
There will be lectures, seminar, written assignment and test.
Assessment methods
Seminar participation: 2 x 15% There will be two 40-minutes seminars. One about women's' interest and its representation, the other about politics of gender quota. The attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to discuss the topics based on the assigned literature. Participation in discussions will be evaluated. Research paper: 35% Each student will hand in a case study of one country. Students will analyze the history of and the current state of women's political representation in the chosen country, they will choose one major female politician of the country and introduce her work. The paper will have 3000 words in length. You will have to cite at least 10 sources. The paper is due May 7. Exam test: 35% The final exam covers the whole class (lectures and reading material). The first test will take place on May 15, room U41 GRADING To pass the course students must attend both seminars, submit a paper and pass a written exam. The maximum number of points a student can get from all parts of the course is 100. F 0-65, E 66-72, D 73-79, C 80-86, B 87- 93, A 94-100
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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