Roslyn Irwin

Dancing in the Lion's Den: Women Leaders in Local Government Roslyn Irwin

During the 20th century, women were elected into government and political leadership positions in increasing numbers, yet their numbers are substantially lower than their representation in the population. Dancing in the Lion?s Den explores how some women leaders in local government in England, Sweden, India, The Philippines and Australia experience and perceive positions traditionally held by men, whether they share understandings and experiences that transcend their differences and whether they are changing the environment of local government. The author finds that these women leaders bring a different social perspective to their work, transforming local government in significant ways. They shape agendas and decision-making processes, change the way representatives of both genders feel about those processes, and mold outcomes for their communities in subtle but distinct ways. Many of these women leaders use their agency actively to change the practices and environment of their councils, supporting arguments for increasing women at the leadership level in local government, and testifying to the urgency of that task if local government is to be more representative of its people.