The Succession Effect: Change Over Time in Women’s Political Leadership Styles in New Zealand
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Given the worldwide pattern that women leaders are often constrained by expectations to demonstrate proof of masculinity to be considered effective, this study explores whether it is possible for these expectations—and the leadership styles they promote—to change over time. I develop a new methodological tool to measure stereotypically masculine leadership style called the Ferrous Scale and apply the Scale to the three female prime ministers of New Zealand, where I find that Ferrous scores decline with each female prime minister. I conduct interviews with the three women leaders and examine a set of hypotheses on the causal mechanisms behind the apparent erosion of the association between executive office and masculinity in New Zealand, building a theory called the Succession Effect: that a succession of female prime ministers—rather than societal gender progressiveness or partisan affiliation—was the prerequisite in New Zealand to loosen the association between executive office and masculinity.
Source: Comparative Political Studies
Author: Katie Tyner
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,700
OpenAlex ID: W4405114455