Beyond Structures to Democracy as Culture

Bibliographic Data

ID3755933
AuthorsJennifer Beeman (Conseil d'intervention pour l'accès des femmes au travail), Nancy Guberman (University of Quebec in Montreal), Jocelyne Lamoureux (University of Quebec in Montreal), Danielle Fournier (Université de Montréal), Lise Gervais (Relais Femmes)
Year2009
Volume52
Issue6
Pages867-884
Publication date2009-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764208327663
OpenAlexW2073456482
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited5

This article explores a paradox revealed by our research on the democratic practices of women's groups in Québec. In focus groups and interviews, grassroots members active in these groups suggested that formal decision making structures had little meaning to most grassroots members. Workers and board members also identified a significant distance between members' participation and formal democratic structures. However, these same informants spoke eloquently of the meaning of democracy and its importance in these groups. This article analyses the meaning of democracy and democratic structures for the members of these women's groups. The analysis sits at the intersection of feminist theory on democracy and Alain Touraine's theory of the emergence of the subject through participation in democratic processes. The article explores the nuances, contradictions and richness of the different meanings of democracy for the members of these women's groups

Critical theory · Democracy · Epistemology · Grassroots · Meaning (existential) · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Canadian Identity and History · Gender Studies · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Social Sciences and Governance

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