The beginning of Institutional Feminism in the local government of Madrid

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of Institutional Feminism at municipal level, from conformation of the first structure of equality policies of the Madrid City Council in 1999. The analysis is based on the literature on the subject and on a historical review of the process through qualitative interviews and documentary review. After two decades of the creation of the first structure of equality policies of the Madrid City Council, there are few studies made related to this case. In order to broaden the knowledge regarding Institutional Feminism at the municipal level, this article aims to identify the conditions and actors that facilitated the creation of the first equality policy structure of the Madrid City Council, focusing attention on the actors who were part of the process. It is concluded that the most influential factors that allowed the configuration of Institutional Feminism in the Madrid City Council were the presence of critical actors such as the feminist movement, the support of left-wing political parties within the government and the influence of international and European policies. The presence of these actors prompted the introduction of feminist objectives in the municipal equality policy, which resulted in the creation of the Council of Women of the city and the figure of equality agents, two actors who in the form of an alliance promoted Institutional Feminism at the Madrid City Council.