Women in Parliaments: Descriptive and Substantive Representation

TLDR

The theory of the politics of presence (Phillips 1995) suggests a link between descriptive and substantive representation, but empirical support is mixed. This essay reviews two research programs. The first program examines variations in the number of women elected to national parliaments worldwide (descriptive representation), while the second investigates the effects of women’s presence in parliament (substantive representation). Aggregated evidence shows that female politicians strengthen the position of women’s interests in parliamentary processes.

Abstract

This essay reviews two research programs. The first focuses on variations in the number of women elected to national parliaments in the world (descriptive representation), and the second focuses on effects of women's presence in parliament (substantive representation). The theory of the politics of presence (Phillips 1995) provides reasons for expecting a link between descriptive and substantive representation. The safest position would be to say that results are “mixed” when it comes to empirical support for the theory of the politics of presence. However, when a large number of studies covering a wide set of indicators on the importance of gender in the parliamentary process are piled together, the picture that emerges shows that female politicians contribute to strengthening the position of women's interests.