Gender Dynamics in the Dutch Socialist and Labour Movements of the 19th and 20th centuries

Abstract

Introduction: To this day, women in high public positions are not taken seriously or must leave their positions due to the difficulties they face based on their gender, which was already the case in the 19th and 20th centuries. Objective: This study aims to understand the gender regime of the 19th and 20th centuries and how this affected the obtainment of capital by women. Method: Data was obtained from The Biographical Dictionary of the Socialist and Labour Movements in the Netherlands. A mixed method (N = 100) was used. For the qualitative analysis, the biographies were analysed based on the themes derived from the literature. For the quantitative analysis, each dependent variable was analysed using a t-test, linear regression ans ANCOVA for the final hypothesis. Results: The qualitative analysis showed that gender affected women's live negatively and, therefore, their obtainment of the four capitals. This effect lessened in the 20th century. The quantitative analysis results did not support this. Only for symbolic capital did gender have a significant positive effect, contrary to expectations. Two of the three sub-hypotheses and the control variables were found to be significant and aligned with the literature. Conclusiom and implications: This study shehds light on the capital obtainment between women and men in the movements but does not offee a conclusive answer. Future research should study the types of capital seperately to create proper measurements. Policy: Recommendations for more effective and more collaboration opportunities for historical research using these types of data were given.