In this blog post series, titled ‘Cooperatives in the Spotlight’, Tabea Dick sheds light on the vital role of cooperatives. For her master thesis, she explored the role of gender in shaping gender relations within energy and housing cooperatives in Amsterdam. While in the previous two blogs she has showcased the importance of cooperatives and three exemplary initiatives, this blog present her research results.
How democratic and egalitarian are our alternative organisations in reality? This is the question that guided Tabea’s thesis research during her time at Commons Network. In theory, housing and energy cooperatives in Amsterdam – grounded in collective ownership, participation, and equality – represent inspiring models of post-capitalist organising. But how do these ideals hold up in everyday practice? And more specifically: what role does gender play within the internal power relations of these cooperatives?
Challenging the narrative of inclusivity
Cooperatives are often framed as alternatives to extractive capitalism. Yet, using a feminist lens, Teabea explored how power operates (both visibly and invisibly) within these initiatives, and how it intersects with gender. The study is grounded in feminist and post-capitalist organisational literature. Drawing on socialist and poststructuralist feminist theory, we explore how gendered norms and patriarchal structures can subtly shape who participates, who leads, and whose voices are heard within cooperatives. Through interviews with 17 cooperative members, two expert conversations, and direct observations of cooperative meetings, Tabea unpacked the less visible sides of cooperative organising.
The findings are clear: even in spaces explicitly built on principles of democracy, equality, and equity there are internalised gendered roles, imbalanced leadership dynamics, and informal power hierarchies. For instance, women are often involved in administrative and emotional labour, while men dominate technical roles and leadership positions. These patterns are not always intentional; instead, they often reflect broader societal norms being replicated at the community level.
“Even in spaces explicitly built on principles of democracy, equality, and equity there are internalised gendered roles, imbalanced leadership dynamics, and informal power hierarchies.”
Why this matters
This research has timely political and social relevance. In early 2025, the Dutch government announced budget cuts to NGOs working on gender equality – a stark reminder of how easily hard-won rights can be undermined. At the same time, Amsterdam sees a rise in cooperative initiatives as tools for societal transformation. But if these spaces are to serve as building blocks for a truly inclusive and democratic society, they must also be critical about the power dynamics emerging within them.
Simply put: the emancipatory promise of cooperatives cannot be fulfilled without gender justice. If we want cooperatives to thrive as viable alternatives to the dominant economic model, they must not replicate the same exclusions and hierarchies we seek to move beyond.
Insights for cooperatives and policymakers
My research offers practical recommendations for cooperatives in Amsterdam and beyond. These include:
- Critically examining internal decision-making structures to ensure they are not just formally democratic, but substantively inclusive.
- Actively supporting female and marginalised members in leadership roles, including through mentorship and role-sharing.
- Creating space for emotional labour to be recognised and valued, not hidden or feminised.
- Fostering cultures of reflection, where informal norms and power dynamics can be openly discussed.
These insights are not just relevant for cooperatives themselves, but for local policymakers and municipal actors increasingly interested in post-growth and commons-based models. If cooperatives are to serve as catalysts for systemic change, then gender equality cannot be an afterthought – it must be foundational.
Embedded in structural norms
While Tabea’s research highlights clear gendered power imbalances within Amsterdam’s housing and energy cooperatives, it’s important to clarify: this is not a critique of cooperatives themselves. Instead, it’s a critique of the wider systems in which they operate. The inequalities observed are not the result of individual failings or bad intentions, but rather symptoms of a broader patriarchal culture – one that continues to shape our assumptions, behaviours, and institutions, even in progressive and community-led spaces.
Cooperatives often emerge as hopeful alternatives to capitalist and hierarchical structures, yet many still (often unconsciously) reproduce traditional gender roles and power dynamics. This is not because they lack vision or commitment, but because none of us – and none of our organisations – operate outside the reach of deeply embedded cultural norms.
With this research, we don’t want to discourage, but to invite reflection. How can cooperatives, as spaces of experimentation and solidarity, go further in breaking free from patriarchal and capitalist patterns? How can they live up to their transformative potential – not just in theory but in everyday practices?
A commons-based future is a feminist one
Working with Commons Network has allowed Tabea to situate my research within broader conversations about economic transformation, solidarity, and community ownership. We hope this study adds to the toolkit of practitioners, researchers, and activists working to co-create more just, democratic, and inclusive spaces of organising.
To truly reimagine the economy, we must also reimagine power. And that reimagining begins with listening – especially to the voices that are most often marginalised.
Are you part of a cooperative, policymaker, or community organiser and want to learn more about Tabea’s research, don’t hesitate to reach out.