Female presence in lobbying careers in Europe: A comparison of women in the lobbying workforce in three national political systems and the EU

Maria Cristina Antonucci

doi:10.3224/gender.v13i1.05

Abstract

This paper investigates women in lobbying careers in Italy, the UK and France in comparison with the EU Parliament to verify the hypothesis that in political systems with a gender mainstreaming approach, it is easier for women to have access to political, institutional and politics-related careers. Given the differences between national and supranational political systems, the collected data display a fairer gender balance in the stock of registered lobbyists at the EU Parliament than in the national registers for lobbyists. The explanatory factors are the EU institutional approach towards gender mainstreaming and a fairer gender balance in EU top-political and administrative jobs. The paper argues that there is a spillover effect from fair-gendered political careers to the lobbying professions. EU lobbyists need to reflect the diversity of EU politicians and administrative staff. In this sense, the EU institutionalization of the gender mainstreaming approach goes beyond issues such as the descriptive and substantive political representation of women in politics while creating a more inclusive environment for equal opportunities in traditionally male-dominated jobs.

Highlights

SummaryThis paper investigates women in lobbying careers in Italy, the UK and France in comparison with the EU Parliament to verify the hypothesis that in political systems with a gender mainstreaming approach, it is easier for women to have access to political, institutional and politics-related careers
It is crucial to assess the extent of this gender imbalance in the lobbying profession in national political systems while considering data from a supra national political system, such as the EU, where lobbying is a long-time recognized and practiced profession and where systemic gender balance was introduced with the gender mainstreaming approach
Data show that in the EU’s political system the share of women in lobbying professions is si gnificantly higher than in the considered national political systems: 44.7 % of the female lobbyists accredited to the EU Parliament doubles the proportion of 18.5 % of female lobbyists certified in the French system and 22 % of female lobbyists registered in the Italian and British registers

Summary

This paper investigates women in lobbying careers in Italy, the UK and France in comparison with the EU Parliament to verify the hypothesis that in political systems with a gender mainstreaming approach, it is easier for women to have access to political, institutional and politics-related careers. Coherently with the gender mainstreaming approach, shaping a favorable environment for a fairer presence of women in European careers, I compare the share of women lobbyists in the UK, France and Italy to the percentage of women lobbyists accessing the EU Parliament in order to identify differences or similarities in the share of female staff lobbying national and supernational political institutions. Lobbying can be defined as a professional activity based on sectorial politi cal and economic dossier studying and on special interests representation with public decision-makers According to this definition, it should be a gender-neutral profession, with a general university background in law, economics, political science, and training on the job path in firms, consultancies, associations. It is crucial to assess the extent of this gender imbalance in the lobbying profession in national political systems while considering data from a supra national political system, such as the EU, where lobbying is a long-time recognized and practiced profession and where systemic gender balance was introduced with the gender mainstreaming approach

Gendering lobbyism through gender mainstreaming?

Findings

Conclusion