Women's Suffrage in the Measurement of Democracy: Problems of Operationalization

In: Studies in comparative international development, Band 35, Heft 3, S. 92-111

Abstract

Although definitions of democracy commonly include all adults, measures of democracy often fail to include women. In this article, I demonstrate that this incorrect operationalization can affect (1) measurement of transition dates to democracy, (2) description of the emergence of democracy, & (3) understanding of the causes of democratization. I begin by outlining the disjuncture between the definition of democracy & its measurement in a number of studies (eg, Muller, 1988; Huntington, 1991; & Rueschemeyer, Stephens, & Stephens, 1992). I then illustrate the consequences of omission in these studies & finish with the suggestion that a possible solution lies in graded measures of democracy. 1 Table, 2 Figures, 1 Appendix, 51 References. Adapted from the source document.