Gender Differences in Parliamentary Careers in a Multilevel Political System: the Case of the 17 Spanish Regional Parliaments

In this paper, we will analyse gender differences in the parliamentary careers in a multi-level institutional system. Using Spain (Congreso de los Diputados and 17 regional parliaments) as a comparative-case study, we will measure the impact of different career models suggested by the literature (spring-board, inverse, alternative…) with special attention to gender differences among MPs following those models. In the analysis, we will take into account both institutional variables (dealing with the institutional design of the legislatures and electoral systems) as well as individual ones (such as gender, previous political career as an elected official, and experience as officials in the party organizational structure). The results point to the co-existence of different career models in a context in which the increasing salience and attractiveness of the regional arenas, the sprig-model is not the only track anymore. The analysis also points to gender differences regarding those models and the factors explaining them.