Finding That Special Niche: Women for Parties

Abstract

Qualitative evidence in preceding chapters points to party religiosity as a plausible explanation for variations in women’s leadership across parties (H1). Since there may be alternative explanations, other aspects of party institutionalization, besides party ideology qua religiosity, are explored in this chapter to make the argument more compelling. Otherwise, I could be open to accusations of monocausal explanations or exaggerating the role of religiosity. Qualitative evidence supports theoretical expectations that democratic practices and plural membership may also influence female membership and leadership (H2 and H3). Women join parties voluntarily, motivated by personal interests and preferences, while their ascendance to leadership is contingent upon party politics and male elites. Thus, party religiosity is not expected to influence women’s membership as it does leadership, as argued in the early exposition of the theory of party religiosity.