Representation: the case of women

The essays in this book look at the question of how to study women's representation and women's political interests. Following a theoretical positioning of the meaning of women's "interests", the book looks at descriptive representation in political parties, high courts, and legislatures, as well as how definitions of "interest" affect who represents women in legislatures and social movements. Chapters include cases from the United States, Latin America, Western Europe and Africa.

This volume studies representation of historically under-represented groups by examining the case of representation of women's interests across different countries and venues. Representation involves not only getting group members into government - in multiple venues, at all levels of government - it also involves articulation of group interests, and then translation of interests into policy. Representation is a multistage process, influenced by the diversity of interests found within the group. Because competing groups in society have different preferences about policy, and want to maintain their access to positions of power to defend their interests, representation of historically under-represented groups is a contentious and contingent process.

This volume studies representation of historically under-represented groups by examining the case of representation of women's interests across different countries and venues. Representation involves not only getting group members into government - in multiple venues, at all levels of government - it also involves articulation of group interests, and then translation of interests into policy. Representation is a multistage process, influenced by the diversity of interests found within the group. Because competing groups in society have different preferences about policy, and want to maintain their access to positions of power to defend their interests, representation of historically under-represented groups is a contentious and contingent process.