The Substantive Representation of Women: The Case of the Reduction of VAT on Sanitary Products

In: Parliamentary affairs: a journal of comparative politics, Band 59, Heft 1, S. 10-23

Abstract

In 2000 the British Government announced that it would reduce Valued Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary products. Informed by the literature on women's political representation & feminist comparative policy, this article identifies the key actors & actions that account for this policy change. Using a range of research methods (elite interviews & parliamentary data) & techniques (quantitative & qualitative analysis) it establishes that, in this instance, the government's decision reflected the actions of women representatives, in particular the actions of backbench Labor woman MP -- Christine McCafferty. Beyond documenting a single policy change this article offers fresh insights into wider debates about the substantive representation of women. Figures. Adapted from the source document.