Women Finance Ministers in Global Perspective

• In Event: Women, Gender and Cabinet Ministers in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Despite recent gains in women’s representation in legislatures across the globe, women remain largely underrepresented in executive posts. When women are appointed to cabinets, moreover, they are largely excluded from traditionally high-prestige and “masculine” portfolios. Yet, in recent years a diverse but growing number of states have appointed women to the ministry of finance—a powerful position typically reserved for male politicians. When, where, and why do states select female finance ministers? After cataloguing the appointments of female finance ministers across the globe and over time, we present a new theory of women’s access to these powerful positions: women are likely to be selected as finance ministers when the position becomes less desirable. Specifically, we argue that female finance ministers are likely to be appointed in countries in financial distress and those seeking a way out of economic turmoil. Appointments under these conditions are a function of the glass-cliff phenomenon and gender-trait stereotypes. Women are more likely to selected for posts in which there is a high risk of individual or organization failure. And, stereotypes about women signal to domestic and foreign audiences that female finance ministers will be more risk averse. We test our hypotheses using an original data set of more than 100 countries over a 25-year period.


When, where, and why do states appoint female finance ministers? With original data from over 100 countries across 25 years, we argue that women are selected when countries are in financial distress and seeking a way out of economic turmoil.

Authors

• Tiffany D. Barnes, University of Kentucky

• Diana Z. O'Brien, Rice University

• Brenna Gail Armstrong