Intersectionality and candidate selection in Sweden
| Date | 01 November 2016 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0263395715621931 |
| Published date | 01 November 2016 |
| Author | Lenita Freidenvall |
| Subject Matter | Special Section: Intersectionality and Political Science ResearchGuest Edited by Silvia Erzeel (Université catholique de Louvain; University of Antwerp) and Liza Mügge (University of Amsterdam) |
Politics
2016, Vol. 36(4) 355 –363
© The Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/0263395715621931
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Intersectionality and
candidate selection in
Sweden
Lenita Freidenvall
Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
Abstract
This article addresses how intersectionality can be applied to studies of candidate selection.
Based on empirical examples on the three stages of candidate selection in Sweden, it concludes
that intersectionality is of importance not only in addressing the intersections between different
forms of inequality and the resulting hierarchies between them, but also in drawing attention to
dominant categories in any given context. By asking ‘which women’ and ‘which men’ are included
as aspirants, candidates, and/or elected representatives, the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion
in candidate selection can be brought to the fore, particularly the ways in which the ‘norm’ (usually
white privileged men) remains in power.
Keywords
candidate selection, gender, intersectionality, representation
Received: 23 February 2015; revised version received: 18 September 2015; accepted: 23 September 2015
Introduction
Research on gender and politics has been addressing women’s under-representation in
elected bodies for over 20 years. Special measures, such as gender quotas, have been
presented as a possible solution to combat this situation (Dahlerup, 2006; Krook, 2009).
Many studies have pointed to the ways in which access to political office is stratified by
gender, and scholars have argued for an increased focus on candidate selection, that is,
the process by which candidates are nominated and selected to represent political parties
in elections, in order to better understand why some candidates are selected while others
are not (Bjarnegård, 2013; Kenny, 2013; Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). In recent years,
the under-representation of ethnic minorities has also achieved increased attention by
scholars (Bird et al., 2011; Ruedin, 2013). With reference to increased globalization and
changing migration patterns, it has been argued that special measures are needed in order
for formal decision-making bodies to better reflect the population, including ethnic
Corresponding author:
Lenita Freidenvall, Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden.
Email: lenita.freidenvall@statsvet.su.se
621931POL0010.1177/0263395715621931PoliticsFreidenvall
research-article2016
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