Behind the Council Doors: A Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Post-Election Experiences in Islamic City Councils

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan.

2 PhD Student of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Local Islamic councils, as the representative entities of urban and rural governance, have generated novel opportunities for women’s political and social participation; however, their presence remains limited and constrained by structural barriers. This study employs semi-structured interviews with 17 women councilors in Isfahan Province who were selected through purposive sampling to explore and interpret their experiences after entering the councils. Using thematic analysis supported by MAXQDA software, four main themes were identified: (1) the council as a chllanging field; (2) navigating institutional pressures while simultaneously relying on support networks; (3) strategic orientation along a continuum from passive adaptation to agentic resistance; and (4) positioning women at the center of attention. The findings reveal that the male-dominated composition of the councils and profoundly embedded gender norms create an institutional environment in which women encounter role pressures, doubts about their competence, gender stereotypes, and marginalization from decision-making processes. These dynamics intensifyexacerbate the conflicts between family and organizational responsibilities and amplify the ongoing demand to prove their capabilities, thereby increasing stress and role fatigue. Despite these constraints, women engage in strategies such as networking, negotiation, incremental resistance, and prioritizing the practical requirements of women in their communities to reshape decision-making spaces and enhance gender sensitivity in local policies.However, the transformative impact of such agency remains limited within patriarchal institutional structures. Strengthening women’s effective participation ultimately requires institutional reforms and greater representation of women in higher levels of local governance.

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References

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Woman in Development & Politics
Volume 23, Issue 4
January 2026
Pages 739-769

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