Gender, Institutions and Power: A Critical Review
| Date | 01 June 2007 |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1467-9256.2007.00284.x |
| Author | Meryl Kenny |
| Published date | 01 June 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Research Article |
Research Article
Gender, Institutions and Power:
A Critical Review
Meryl Kenny
University of Edinburgh
Both feminist and mainstream political science has taken an institutional ‘turn’, opening up
possibilities for interchange between the two fields. This article explores the potential for theoretical
synthesis between feminist gender analysis and new institutional theory, focusing particularly on
issues of power. After providing a brief overview of approaches to power in the institutionalist and
feminist literature, it outlines some initial possibilities for dialogue between the two fields. The
article concludes by considering some potential insights that a gendered approach to institutions
and power would offer to new institutionalism, establishing a preliminary foundation for a wider
‘feminist institutionalist’ research agenda.
Introduction
Feminist political science has taken a decidedly institutional ‘turn’, moving gradu-
ally from ‘women in politics’ to ‘gender and politics’. A gendered focus shifts the
emphasis from ‘women in to the gendering of political institutions’, highlighting the
ways in which political institutions reflect, structure and reinforce gendered pat-
terns of power (Kenney, 1996, p. 455). There is a growing recognition that inno-
vative conceptual tools and methods are needed in order to explore and understand
gendered modes of interaction and to expose the ways in which seemingly neutral
institutional processes and practices are in fact gendered (Lovenduski, 1998;
Mackay, 2004).
The institutional ‘turn’ in feminist political science is paralleled by broader institu-
tional trends in mainstream political science, particularly in the field of ‘new
institutionalism’, opening up possibilities for dialogue between the two fields. In the
few attempts to synthesise gender analysis with institutional theory,1it is argued
that a ‘feminist institutionalism’ may be a promising approach for the study of
gender and institutions that could potentially bridge the gap in existing conceptual
and empirical work. In particular, a gendered approach would offer important
insights into power relations, which are often underplayed in new institutional
analysis.
This article is divided into three sections. First, it provides a brief overview of
conceptions of power in both the new institutionalist and feminist literature.
Second, it considers some initial possibilities for dialogue and synthesis between the
POLITICS: 2007 VOL 27(2), 91–100
© 2007 The Author.Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
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