Going alone and taking the independent route: new insights on female candidate emergence

Abstract

Using a novel approach – examining independent women and comparing them with their party counterparts – this article offers new insights on the emergence, recruitment and election of women candidates, within and beyond political parties. To date, studies of gender, candidate recruitment and institutions have concentrated on parties and party women. These studies highlight the gendered aspects of party candidate recruitment and conclude that parties are gatekeepers of women’s candidacy. This article finds that beyond party boundaries, the emergence and election of independent women is circumscribed by individual, institutional and political culture dynamics that have consequences for independent women’s candidacy. The independent route is no less gendered or more advantageous a pathway for women’s candidacy.