Women in the British political process in contemporary times. A role analysis

Abstract

The practice and theory of the political process show that the specific of the behavior of men and women in politics is different. Coupled with gender stereotypes, that causes a difference in the portrayals and images of political leaders of different genders. The study of the peculiarities of women’s leadership in the formation of political elites is complicated by several theoretical issues related to the influence of gender stereotypes on it, including the role behavior. However, the influence of such stereotypes on the perception of female leadership does not mean that female political representation “automatically” leads to the humanization of the political process and contributes to the softness in the work of political institutions. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the political courses of prominent women leaders in Great Britain of the 20th– 21st centuries shows that the real political courses of women leaders have little in common with the gender stereotypes that were attributed to them, what did not prevent them from being widely recognized as decisive leaders in their positions. More than 100 years of experience of women’s presence in the British politics allows us to highlight the common and special in their activities. Using the algorithm of SWOT-analysis of the successful growth and self-realization of the personality of iconic female politicians of Great Britain, the authors trace the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats for female leadership in the political process of Great Britain in the 20th–21st centuries.