Ministers and Female Ministers: Reproduction of Masculinity in Political Leadership - A Case Study of Finland

Abstract: Globally, approximately nine out of ten political leaders are men, which is a ratio that leaves women as a rare minority. This thesis examines such gender inequality in political leadership. The sphere of politics reproduces masculinity norms, which explain male privilege in political leadership. Simultaneously, these norms disadvantage women in relation to executive offices, as the legitimacy of masculinity norms correlate strongly with biological maleness. Benefitting from genealogical approach, a poststructuralist theoretical framework deconstructs essentialist notions according to which a man is neutral for a political actor and a woman is regarded as gendered. An empirical illustration of the theoretical framework is a case study of Finland. The country is continuously ranked amongst the most gender equal in the world, and the ranking includes also gender equal representation in political leadership. Yet, when scrutinizing gendered representation of Finnish ministers historically and gaining narrative insight through two ministerial interviews, a conclusion can be drawn in which the ranking rather mirrors global gender inequality in politics rather than exalts Finland’s perfection in the area. In Finland, a woman still is considered as an exception to the male norm in political leadership.