POL303 Midterm

what are the four different types of representation?

formal, descriptive, substantive, and symbolic.

formal representation

women have the legal right to participate in politics on an equal basis with men, with women having the right to vote and stand for office.

symbolic representation

when the presence of women in politics serves as a sign of inclusion and equality, even if it doesn’t always lead to direct policy change. a society that is more welcoming towards women in politics and provides role models for future generations.

descriptive representation

the composition of the legislature and the extent that legislature’s diversity reflects the diversity of the public. the focus is on who the representatives are, not what they do. elected officials should demographically mirror the population they represent. 

substantive representation

politicians act in the interests of the represented in a manner responsive to them. this focuses on what politicians do, not who they are. any gender is considered to be well-suited to support women’s rights. 

gender

social differences (roles, expectations, norms). socially constructed by culture and society.

sex

biological differences (male/female bodies).

three interdependent factors that affect the emergence and development of social movements

resource mobilization, framing, opportunities/threats.

resource mobilization

the structure of the movement, such as the number and size of organizations, ties to other social movements, the skill level of leadership, the movement’s ability to raise funds, or the varied tactical strategies used by movement factors.

framing

the strategic efforts of movements to define a social problem, identify who is to blame for it, generate a plan of action, and motivate others to join in the movement.

opportunities

changes that are favorable for movement advancement or success and occur in the broader environment. 

threats

negative conditions that heighten grievances.

gender gap

the differences between men and women in outcomes, opportunities, or attitudes. this can impact their wage, political support, and other areas.

prominent explanations for the existence of a gender gap

women often have less time for politics because of childcare and housework, fewer opportunities to join political groups or networks, and less money and contacts for political activity. 

traditional gender gap

women leaded towards more conservative parties, as they were more religious and closer to traditional family roles.

modern gender gap

women began to favor left-leaning parties, as there are now more women in public sector jobs and younger women have more secular values, emphasizing religion less.

supply-side factor characteristics

money, time, experience, ambition, interest in politics, social structure, culture. 

demand-side factor characteristics

electoral institutions, electoral rules and systems, gender quotas, and political parties.

supply-side factor

factors that increase the pool of women with the will and experience to compete against men for political office. whether women choose to run.

demand-side factor

characteristics of countries, electoral systems, and political parties that make it more likely that women will be pulled into office from the supply of willing candidates. whether political parties and voters support women.

impact of supply and demand factors on women’s political represnetation

different generations who are most inclined to vote for a specific candidate (demand), women being the primary breadwinner of the household (supply), party elites and their impact on influencing women to run for office (demand).