Gender Insensitive Politics: Algerian Women Navigating the Post-Quota Landscape

This article examines women’s participation in Algerian politics following the abolition of gender quotas in 2022. Once a tool used to enhance women’s political representation, the removal of quotas has exacerbated gender inequality, leaving women to comprise just 8.35% of 402 parliamentary members. Despite this symbolic presence, findings reveal that most female parliamentarians do not work in the parliamentary building itself but instead operate from their local constituencies. This shift allows female politicians to navigate dual responsibilities—political and domestic—in a less restrictive environment, balancing their roles within a system that reinforces patriarchal expectations. This arrangement underscores broader structural and societal barriers that limit women’s active political participation at both national and local levels, forcing them to juggle competing priorities as women and as politicians. Grounded in intersectional and post-colonial feminist frameworks, this study investigates the gendered dynamics of Algeria’s political institutions, and the strategies women employ to navigate these challenges. Data collected during seven months of ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews with national and local female politicians as well as male politicians, provides a holistic view of the political landscape. These interviews illuminate the lived experiences of female politicians, showcasing their resilience and agency in negotiating systemic barriers such as patriarchal norms, lack of institutional support, and heteronormative gender roles. In the absence of quotas, the study explores how structural exclusion and socio-cultural norms continue to undermine women’s efforts to secure and sustain political influence. By centering women’s voices and contextualizing their experiences within the broader political system, the article contributes to discussions on gender, agency, and representation in post-colonial political systems.