Quota election system as a way of achieving descriptive and substantive representation of women in parliaments

• Main Author: Mršević Zorica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Sociological Association, Belgrade 2007-01-01
• Series: Sociološki Pregled
• Subjects: underrepresented gender; descriptive representation; substantive representation; women’s political efficiency; quota electoral system; women’s issues; women's perspective
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0085-6320/2007/0085-63200701057M.pdf

In ten chapters of the text are analyzed issues of under representation of women in legislative bodies (descriptive representation) matched with possibilities of their substantive representation. The substantive representation means contribution of women MPs in development and promotion of "women's politics" and politics of representing specific interest of women's part of population. In chapters under the titles, Underrepresented sex, Quota term, and Myths on quotas, are presented the main characteristics of the issues of women's under representation from political mainstream and decision-making bodies. There is also analyzed quota preferential electoral system as a solution. The gist of the text is comprised in the chapter Why Quotas where are presented the classical arguments for quotas as a specific measure of affirmative action. The way from increasing quantitative presence of women in legislative bodies to increasing the qualitative level of their activities in there is elaborated in the chapters Increasing numbers and achieving quality, Issues of women's political efficiency, Criteria of changes, and Inter parliamentarian activities of women. In the chapter Women's issues and women's perspectives is defined difference between these two aspects of women's MPs activities. Women's issues are those issues influencing directly women on physical or social way (e.g. breast cancer, reproductive rights, gender based discrimination, politics of child's care). The women's perspectives are specific women's interest and views of all other political issues.