Breaking Barriers in Local Politics: Women Mayors Between Tradition and Modernity

The article examines the evolution of women's role in local politics with a particular focus on the gender dynamics that influence their leadership. While previous studies have looked at gender norms mainly at the national level, this study focuses on how these norms affect women mayors. The authors analyze how women in local politics work with, challenge, change and utilize gender norms in their quest to gain a foothold in political leadership. The article traces the historical stages of women’s integration into city government, noting that women’s representation at both the local and national levels increased significantly only after World War II. It identifies a consistent pattern of female politicians achieving greater representation in smaller cities, reflecting the willingness of local communities to support women as nurturers or stabilizers of the social order. Drawing on both historical and contemporary data, the authors note that women mayors are more often left-wing or independent politicians, but even they are forced to navigate entrenched gender stereotypes and the traditionally masculine nature of politics. The authors’ analysis of contemporary women mayors’ gender displays demonstrates how contemporary women mayors balance expectations of femininity with the need to project professional competence usually associated with a masculine gender display. The authors conclude that women mayors use different strategies to construct their public image: they take a strategic approach to their public image, often downplaying personal aspects in order to emphasize leadership and professionalism; they engage in traditionally 'feminine' areas of politics, appealing to values of family and eco-activism.