Feminizing Politics - The Impact of Gendered Institutions on Women’s Political Influence and Representation - A case of Malawi and Colombia

Abstract: According to the 2030 agenda, gender equality is a fundamental condition for achieving sustainable development, and one of the central components is the effective participation of women at all levels of political decision-making. Based on the theory of gendered organizations and Lowndes' model, the study presents the legislative power in Colombia and Malawi aiming to understand the dramatic low number of women's political representation in both countries. The study was designed using a qualitative exploratory approach and conducted through semi-structured interviews with former and current women parliamentarians of Colombia and Malawi. The major findings revealed that the significant barriers for women's political representation and influence in both countries are the systematic violence, cultural values, and informal rules that put women in a disadvantaged position. On the other hand, the enablers for women's political participation are based on access to education, mentorship, and empowerment. Despite the social-cultural differences between the countries, the political arenas presented similar gendered systems that reproduce inequalities and hinder women's political representation and influence.