Unsettling the Gendered Power Paradigm: Discomfort, Dissonance and Dissention among Women in Local Government

Authors

  • Catherine McGregor University of Victoria
  • Darlene Clover University of Victoria

Abstract

Despite decades of efforts to achieve gender equity in political life, women remain under-represented in nearly all levels of government. In this paper, we explore the experiences offered by women who have been elected to local government in the province of British Columbia, Canada, to illustrate the persistence of gendered discourses and patriarchal practices within political systems. Drawing upon Bashevkin's (2009) recent discussion of how women's political roles are undermined through the discomfort equation, we consider how feminist, adult education offers the potential for creating critical spaces that will support women's greater inclusion in local government.

Keywords:     feminist adult education, political learning, gender, politics


Published

2011-04-04

How to Cite

McGregor, C., & Clover, D. (2011). Unsettling the Gendered Power Paradigm: Discomfort, Dissonance and Dissention among Women in Local Government. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne De l’éducation, 34(1), 248–281. Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/cje/index.php/cje-rce/article/view/430

Issue

Section

Articles