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. It 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, it 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 recent qualitative study of politicians who have dropped out of politics at the local level. It concludes by reflections implications for future research, and ends with a call to action, focusing on strategies for change.