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Preferable Descriptive Representatives: Will Just Any Woman, Black, or Latino Do?

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  • Dovi, Suzanne

Abstract

A body of theoretical literature has developed that explains why historically disadvantaged groups should be represented by members of those groups. Such representatives are commonly referred to as descriptive representatives. This literature has also endorsed various institutional reforms aimed at increasing the number of descriptive representatives, e.g., party list quotas, racial districting, and proportional representation. However, this literature does not articulate criteria that should guide the selection of descriptive representatives to serve in these institutional positions. Indeed, some thinkers claim that such criteria cannot, or at least should not, be articulated. I argue that some descriptive representatives are preferable to others and that criteria for selecting preferable descriptive representatives can, and should, be articulated. Moreover, I recommend one such criterion: Preferable descriptive representatives possess strong mutual relationships with dispossessed subgroups of historically disadvantaged groups.

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  • Dovi, Suzanne, 2002. "Preferable Descriptive Representatives: Will Just Any Woman, Black, or Latino Do?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 96(4), pages 729-743, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:96:y:2002:i:04:p:729-743_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Adeline Nnenna Idike & Remi Chukwudi Okeke & Cornelius O. Okorie & Francisca N. Ogba & Christiana A. Ugodulunwa, 2020. "Gender, Democracy, and National Development in Nigeria," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, May.
    2. Maria Sousa Galito, 2018. "Women in Politics - Portugal as Case Study," CEsA Working Papers 173, CEsA - Center for African and Development Studies.
    3. Catalina Amuedo‐Dorantes & José R. Bucheli, 2023. "Immigration Policy and Hispanic Representation in National Elections," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(3), pages 815-844, June.
    4. Ewald Engelen, 2004. "Problems of Descriptive Representation in Dutch Works Councils," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52(3), pages 491-507, October.
    5. Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina & Bucheli, Jose R., 2020. "Immigration Policy and Hispanics' Willingness to Run for Office," IZA Discussion Papers 13698, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Chung, Phillip & Grogan, Colleen M. & Mosley, Jennifer E., 2012. "Residents' perceptions of effective community representation in local health decision-making," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(10), pages 1652-1659.
    7. Petra Meier & Eline Severs, 2018. "The Dark Side of Descriptive Representation: Bodies, Normalisation and Exclusion," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(3), pages 31-42.
    8. Walter Clark Wilson, 2010. "Descriptive Representation and Latino Interest Bill Sponsorship in Congress," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(4), pages 1043-1062, December.
    9. Sara de Jong & Ward Berenschot & David Ehrhardt & Oliver Walton, 2023. "Agents of order? Brokerage and empowerment in development and conflict," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(3), pages 385-400, April.
    10. Yasminah Beebeejaun & Lucy Grimshaw, 2011. "Is the ‘New Deal for Communities’ a New Deal for Equality? Getting Women on Board in Neighbourhood Governance," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(10), pages 1997-2011, August.
    11. Carolyn Abott & Asya Magazinnik, 2020. "At‐Large Elections and Minority Representation in Local Government," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(3), pages 717-733, July.
    12. Markus Jokela & Jaakko Meriläinen & Janne Tukiainen & Åsa von Schoultz, 2022. "Personality Traits and Cognitive Ability in Political Selection," Discussion Papers 152, Aboa Centre for Economics.
    13. Renaud Egreteau, 2014. "Legislators in Myanmar’s First “Post-Junta” National Parliament (2010–2015): A Sociological Analysis," Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 33(2), pages 91-124.
    14. Netina Tan & Cassandra Preece, 2020. "Electoral System, Ethnic Parties, and Party System Stability in Myanmar," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(2), pages 431-456, April.
    15. Benjamin R. Knoll, 2009. "¿Amigo de la Raza? Reexamining Determinants of Latino Support in the U.S. Congress," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 90(1), pages 179-195, March.

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