The face of international politics has changed significantly in the 21st century: it has become increasingly female. Whether that includes women in multilateral meetings, global conferences and embassies, or women at the UN and one of its many agencies in the field, it is apparent that women are accessing leadership positions in a variety of areas. This book investigates the development of gender equality at the United Nations by analyzing women in leadership roles. This introduction of empirical feminism to the study of international organizations applies what is known about women’s participation and representation in comparative politics and gender studies to the United Nations System. It traces women’s access to leadership roles, and explains where and why a range of hurdles prevent women from participating in the work of the UN. In doing so, it offers insights into recruitment and human resources practices and their politics, and into leadership by bureaucratic actors.
Author(s): Kirsten Haack
Series: Gender and Politics
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 230
City: London
Acknowledgments
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Women Leaders and IR Feminism
The Impact of women’s Participation in International Relations
Overview Over the Book
References
2 Gender Equality and the Development of UN Policy
From the League of Nations to the United Nations
Foundations, 1945–1969
The Emergence of a New Agenda, 1970–1975
Feminist Advances, 1975–1985
Sexist Work Cultures and Women’s Human Rights, 1986–1999
Gender Equality in the New Millennium
Making Women Visible
References
3 Breaking the Glass Ceiling? Women’s Representation in the UN System
Permanent Representatives
Professional and Senior Staff in the Secretariat
Special Representatives, Envoys and Judges
Executive Heads
Glass Ceilings: Cracked or Shattered?
References
4 Explaining Access to Executive Leadership in UN Agencies
Candidates
Processes: Selecting and Appointing
Institutions: Portfolios
Institutions: Authority
Circumstances
From Glass Houses to Labyrinths: Women’s Winding Paths to Leadership
References
5 Explaining Failure: The UN Secretary-Generalship
The Campaign
Polling Results
Merit, Power and Role-Definitions
Discourses of Merit
Merit: A Double-Edged Sword
References
6 Leadership
Defining Women’s Leadership
Leading as Chief Administrator
Catherine Bertini, WFP (1992–2002)
Carol Bellamy, UNICEF (1995–2005)
Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO (1998–2003)
Irina Bokova, UNESCO (2009–2017)
Helen Clark, UNDP (2009–2017)
Leading as Women, for Women
References
7 Conclusion
The Role of the Secretary-General
The UN’s Role as Global Leader
Where Next?
References
Index
