The positioning of women managers in political parties under institutional opportunities and invisible barriers

Significant gender inequalities in political representation persist in Türkiye, with women underrepresented and having limited influence in decision-making and representative bodies. This study examines the opportunities and obstacles faced by women executives in political parties and explores how their organizational structures and leadership practices are shaped within the framework of gender relations. Using qualitative methods, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women executives, and the data were analyzed using thematic and content analysis in MAXQDA 2024 Data Analysis Software. The analysis generated 5 themes and 36 codes. The research revealed that women generally become interested in politics and take on roles in political institutions through political socialization, which usually occurs within the family. The findings showed that the biggest obstacle women face in the political arena is the patriarchal structure and the patriarchal reactions stemming from this structure. The findings reveal that women often remain at the level of symbolic representation and are relegated to a secondary position in male-dominated political structures. The study concludes that political parties are not gender-neutral, conversely, they are gendered organizations in which male-dominated norms are institutionalized and hegemonic masculinity is continuously reproduced. According to the findings, increasing women’s political representation and influence in Türkiye requires strong legal and institutional mechanisms, such as binding quota regulations that guarantee women’s placement in electable positions, rather than voluntary approaches. Furthermore, it is predicted that state policies towards gender equality, cultural transformation, and intra-party training programs can play a critical role in overcoming structural barriers.