Women In Public Affairs And Lobbying

The lobbying and public affairs profession has traditionally been conceptualized as a male-dominated field, sustained by relational dynamics and informal “old boys’ networks” that have historically constrained women’s access to influential positions (Schlozman, 1990; Nownes & Freeman, 1998). Over the last two decades, however, the sector has undergone a partial transformation, with increasing participation of women and younger professionals, thereby reshaping the public image of lobbying. This chapter examines the extent and modalities of women’s presence in lobbying and public affairs by combining empirical data from public registers of interest representatives across different political systems with insights from the sociological and political science literature. Evidence reveals persistent disparities: women constitute 37% of registered lobbyists in Washington, but only 18–22% in France, Italy, and the UK, while Brussels presents a comparatively balanced figure of 45%. Explanatory frameworks stress the interplay of relational barriers, organizational-functional constraints, and gendered asymmetries in political decision-making. At the same time, the progressive feminization of political institutions has generated isomorphic pressures on lobbying organizations, incentivizing greater gender representation. The analysis highlights gender mainstreaming, as endorsed by the Beijing Platform for Action and the European Commission, alongside Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mechanisms integrated into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, as critical instruments for structural transformation. Ultimately, the chapter argues that achieving gender balance in lobbying and public affairs is not only a matter of equity, but also an intangible asset that enhances organizational legitimacy, reputational capital, and alignment with broader social sustainability agendas.