This paper discusses the representation of women in politics and aims to identify the consequences of their presence in politics, more concrete in democracies. Therefore the author will analyse several forms of representation. This work will discuss primarily the descriptive and symbolic representation of women as “standing for something” and resembling half of the world population. How does the representation of woman in politics affect women in the real world? And what is the value and what are the costs of descriptive and symbolic representation of women? Moreover the connection to substantive representation is explained briefly. For this work the author will use the concepts as developed by Hanna Pitkin in her book “The concept of Representation”. These will be explained now in the first Chapter before the analyses.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Concepts of Representation
2.1 Descriptive Representation
2.1.1 Women's Descriptive Representation
2.1.2 The Value of the Descriptive Representation of Women in Politics
2.2 Symbolic Representation
2.2.1 Women's Symbolic Representation
2.3 Substantive Representation
2.3.1 Women's Substantive Representation
2.4 Conclusion
3. Angela Merkel as Political Representative
Research Objectives and Themes
The paper examines the political participation of women through the theoretical lens of Hanna Pitkin's concepts of representation. It investigates whether the descriptive, symbolic, and substantive presence of women in politics leads to meaningful democratic outcomes and improved representation of women's interests, using Angela Merkel as a focused case study to analyze these dimensions in practice.
- Theoretical frameworks of political representation (descriptive, symbolic, substantive).
- The role, benefits, and controversies surrounding quotas for women in politics.
- Discursive construction of gender roles within elite political environments.
- Assessment of Angela Merkel's tenure regarding her impact on women's rights and gender norms.
- The tension between female political leadership and the promotion of feminist policy agendas.
Auszug aus dem Buch
1.1 Descriptive Representation
Descriptive representation is approaching the issue what a representative legislature should be like by its nature. True representation shall be composed corresponding to the whole nation, a mirror, an exact portrait or miniature. It is not about acting, but the success in representation depends on the representative's likeness. As a result the representative body of a State shall be a miniature of the electorate.
True representation may be achieved by a random sample, the microcosmic form of descriptive representation as Jane Mansbridge puts it. Random sampling would lead to a truly representative body. Although elections may send average men to office, they don't have to. Politicians may be like a sample of the nation, but they are certainly not an accurate random sample. An accurate random sample would lead to the end of professional politicians. Against Pitkin, Mansbridge argues, that a random sample does not necessarily need to be more incapable than an elected one. Nevertheless she states, that very few democratic theorists advocate substituting microcosmic representation and that she, herself supports the second form of descriptive representation that she identifies in her essay: the selective form.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the necessity of representation in modern democracy and highlights the gendered nature of existing democratic models and the exclusion of women.
2. Concepts of Representation: Outlines Hanna Pitkin's core categories—descriptive, symbolic, and substantive—and applies them to the context of gender.
3. Angela Merkel as Political Representative: Analyzes Angela Merkel's political career and persona in light of the previously discussed theoretical concepts, evaluating her impact as a female leader.
Keywords
Political representation, Descriptive representation, Symbolic representation, Substantive representation, Gender politics, Hanna Pitkin, Jane Mansbridge, Angela Merkel, Women in parliament, Quotas, Political leadership, Feminist agenda, Democratic legitimacy, Identity politics, Essentialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the complexities of women's political representation by applying established political science theories to evaluate how gender impacts democratic processes and policy outcomes.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the definitions and distinctions between descriptive, symbolic, and substantive representation, the debate on political quotas, and the intersection of gender with other social identities.
What is the central research question?
The research questions whether the increased presence of women in politics leads to tangible improvements for women's interests and if gendered presence truly translates into substantive political change.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a theoretical analysis of political science literature (primarily based on Pitkin and Mansbridge) complemented by a empirical qualitative case study of Angela Merkel.
What content is included in the main body?
The body defines the theoretical framework of representation, analyzes the merits and risks of descriptive and symbolic quotas, and applies these findings to evaluate the political career of Angela Merkel.
How can the paper be characterized using keywords?
Key terms include political representation, gender politics, descriptive and substantive representation, and case-specific analysis of female political leadership.
How does the paper evaluate Angela Merkel's role regarding women's interests?
The paper highlights that despite her iconic status as the first female chancellor, Merkel has been criticized for not explicitly advancing a feminist agenda, yet she serves as a significant symbolic role model for women in leadership.
What is the significance of the nickname 'Mutti' in this context?
The paper interprets 'Mutti' as a paradoxical term that originated as right-wing denunciation but evolved into a symbol of care and stable leadership, functioning as a cultural metaphor in German politics.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Master of Arts Stella Benedickt (Autor:in), 2020, The Political Representation of Women in Politics, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1303234
