Why did an experienced female politician lose her place on the electoral list? And what role did class and gender play in that decision?
At the European Conference for Politics & Gender at Newcastle University, SHOC member Leonie Vanlerberghe presented her research on the Belgian politician Maria Van Sina. Although Van Sina had served as a Member of Parliament for the CVP since 1950, she was denied a winnable position on the party's electoral list in the 1961 elections. Her place was instead given to a trade unionist.
Drawing on newspaper articles, personal correspondence, and campaign material from Maria Van Sina's personal archive, Leonie's research shows that not only social class—Van Sina came from the upper middle class—but also gender shaped this decision. These sources also provide a unique insight into how Van Sina challenged the decision within her party and subsequently launched a campaign focused on securing preference votes.
A fascinating case that sheds new light on the intersections of class, gender, and political power in post-war Belgium.