Pathways to Leadership: Women’s Careers in the European Union
Abstract
This article examines women’s pathways to leadership positions across EU institutions, asking: (1) What characterizes their career trajectories? and (2) Which factors facilitate their advancement? It develops a conceptual framework and analyzes a dataset of all women appointed to EU leadership roles between 1979 and 2021. It also presents qualitative case studies of Ursula von der Leyen, Catherine Day, and Christine Lagarde. The findings show that women’s access to EU leadership depends on favorable structural conditions, exceptional circumstances, and, above all, outstanding personal and professional capacities, while persistent gender inequalities continue to shape their careers.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Gender Politics and Representation
Gender Diversity and Inequality
European Union Policy and Governance
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Women Politics & Policy
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 135–154
- Publication date
- 9 March 2026
- Language
- EN