Articles

Strategie van de vrouwenbeweging bij parlementsverkiezingen

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Abstract

The problem of political apathy and poor representation of women in the Belgian parliament bas been focused and seriously challenged with the 1974  parliamentary elections. Two different strategies hereby have been developed: on the one hand a separate, exclusive feminist party ; on the other hand a strategy of female candidates on the more conventional ballots. The effects of both strategies are quite remarkable : whereas the newcoming feminist party was struggling with breakthrough problems, the female candidate strategy strongly effected the amount of female candidates, elected women, as well as the votes given to women, compared to previous elections. The accurate relationship between the women's campaign and its election effect can hardly be determined for the election determinant is too complex. The propaganda however, was an attempt to change the traditional image of women and to increase the political participation and emancipation of women via the instrument of parliamentary elections. The 1977 results, however, hardly equated the optimistic prospects of 1974 : the feminist party didn't survive its second participation and the candidate strategy
urgently needs permanent action and political sensibilisation.

How to Cite:

Nysmans, M., (1977) “Strategie van de vrouwenbeweging bij parlementsverkiezingen”, Res Publica 19(3), 469-491. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v19i3.19467