Evaluating gender impact assessment in the Netherlands (1994-2004): A political process approach

This article applies a political process approach to the analysis of pioneering Dutch efforts to develop and use gender impact assessment (GIA). Analysing the success and failure of the Dutch GIA, both at the level of structure (in terms of political opportunities, including discursive opportunities) and at the level of agency (in terms of mobilising networks and strategic framing), this article studies the construction, implementation and evaluation of the instrument over a 10-year period, contributing to a more theoretical understanding and to the further practical development of gender mainstreaming practices. © The Policy Press, 2006.