Resumen de Presence and Purpose in the Canadian House of Commons: The Standing Committee on the Status of Women
In Canada, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (SCSW) was established in the House of Commons in 2004 to report on relevant issues on the status of women. Adopting a feminist-institutional perspective, this article explores three dimensions of the work of the SCSW over the period 2004–2015: analysis and research, executive scrutiny and the participation of women's groups. The findings suggest that while the Committee contributed a gender presence and feminist voice, its inability to compel the government to act on recommendations rendered it a policy advocate rather than a catalyst for institutional innovation and gender mainstreaming.
