Evolving gender power relations in Kurdish politics from Kurdistan to Europe

Secular Kurdish political parties have theoretically endorsed gender equality; however, the persistence of unequal gender power relations reveals a clear gap between discourse and practice. This article, part of a broader study on the political identity shifts of first-generation political immigrants from Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhelat), explores how migration has influenced gender attitudes and shaped women's engagement in diaspora political activities in Europe, as well as gender dynamics within Kurdish parties. Focusing on current and former members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and factions of the Association of Revolutionary Toilers of Iranian Kurdistan (Komala) in Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Sweden, the study draws on in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that while increased gender awareness has shaped political attitudes, partisanship, and electoral behaviour, a patriarchal mindset continues to dominate power relations in Kurdish political spaces.