Gender identity and political participation: experiences of women with grassroots leadership in political parties in Aguascalientes

Abstract

This article will reflect, from a gender perspective, on the people doing the grassroots work of political parties composed mostly by women who have also acquired leadership at the community level by participating mainly in social management activities. We will delve into the challenges this sector faces through their political participation. We will observe that while these women develop significant social capital at the community level, it fails to be translated into political capital to generate better opportunities within the party. This does not only create disadvantages of gender but also of class status and education. In the second part of the article, we will discuss the transformations of gender identity that are related to political activity and leadership development.