The Leaky Pipeline of Politics

This chapter examines the leaky pipeline of political office, shifting the focus from women’s entry into politics to explore why women exit political institutions. The chapter assesses the existing literature on legislature turnover and (in)voluntary exit, and argues that there is much to learn about the gendered dynamics of politics from those who leave. Building on feminist institutionalism and gendered workplace approaches, the chapter makes the case for a gendered and institutionally focused approach to studying the dynamics of political dropout. It illustrates the value of this approach through a case study of the Netherlands, drawing on a qualitative study of women politicians who have dropped out of politics at the local level. The chapter concludes by reflecting on implications for future research, and ends with a call to action, focusing on strategies for change.