Women's political representation is often expected to be better on "the left." However, the reality is more complicated. Using Germany's multi-party system as its central...

Women's political representation is often expected to be better on "the left." However, the reality is more complicated. Using Germany's multi-party system as its central case study, Beyond Left, Right, and Center challenges this conventional wisdom on political ideology.

Christina Xydias shows that some right-leaning parties advocate for women's rights and interests, while left- and right-leaning parties can be equally indifferent to lack of representation for women from marginalized groups. These findings follow from analyses of election results, transcripts from debates and speeches, and personal interviews, as well as from a close reading of intertwined military and citizenship policies that illustrate how women's and ethnic minority groups' rights are constructed.

Beyond Left, Right, and Center concludes with an analysis of women's representation across OECD countries, showing that right-leaning parties are more likely to support women's rights and interests in societies that are more egalitarian.

Author: Christina Xydias
Publisher: Temple University Press
Published: 06/17/2024
Pages: 254
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.87lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.61d
ISBN: 9781439923771

About the Author
Christina Xydias is Associate Professor of Political Science at Bucknell University.