From Gender Equity to Gendered Assignments? Women and Cabinet Committees in Canada and the United Kingdom

Abstract This article explores women's access to ministerial power in an important but understudied arena of executive politics: cabinet committees. Specifically, we analyse the gendered patterns distribution committee assignments two ‘typical’ Westminster cases, Canada and United Kingdom, under prime ministers, Justin Trudeau (2015–2021) David Cameron (2010–2016), who both made explicit gender-equity pledges. Informed by previous research into allocation portfolios, investigate overall extent assignments, dimensions these status namely ‘prestige’ remits, whether committees were chaired minister chairing responsibilities across In assignment broadly matched shares women ministers at level, less so during Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition UK (2010–2015). Women's likely be lower on ‘masculine’ ‘high-prestige’ compared ‘neutral’, ‘feminine’ ‘low-prestige’ committees, commitment gender equity is more evident Canadian case. While our aim exploratory descriptive, offer several explanations for patterns, including supply departmentalism, party branding low public profile