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Does Descriptive Representation Facilitate Women's Distinctive Voice? How Gender Composition and Decision Rules Affect Deliberation

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  • Tali Mendelberg
  • Christopher F. Karpowitz
  • Nicholas Goedert

Abstract

Does low descriptive representation inhibit substantive representation for women in deliberating groups? We address this question and go beyond to ask if the effects of descriptive representation also depend on decision rule. We conducted an experiment on distributive decisions, randomizing the group's gender composition and decision rule, including many groups, and linking individuals’ predeliberation attitudes to their speech and to postdeliberation decisions. Women's descriptive representation does produce substantive representation, but primarily under majority rule—when women are many, they are more likely to voice women's distinctive concerns about children, family, the poor, and the needy, and less likely to voice men's distinctive concerns. Men's references shift similarly with women's numerical status. These effects are associated with group decisions that are more generous to the poor. Unanimous rule protects women in the numerical minority, mitigating some of the negative effects of low descriptive representation. Descriptive representation matters, but in interaction with the decision rule.

Suggested Citation

  • Tali Mendelberg & Christopher F. Karpowitz & Nicholas Goedert, 2014. "Does Descriptive Representation Facilitate Women's Distinctive Voice? How Gender Composition and Decision Rules Affect Deliberation," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(2), pages 291-306, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:58:y:2014:i:2:p:291-306
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12077
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    Cited by:

    1. José J. Domínguez, 2021. "The Effectiveness of Committee Quotas; The Role of Group Dynamics," ThE Papers 21/12, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    2. Diego Werneck Arguelhes & Juliana Cesario Alvim & Rafaela Nogueira & Henrique Wang, 2024. "“They don't let us speak”: Gender, collegiality, and interruptions in deliberations in the Brazilian Supreme Court," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(1), pages 174-207, March.
    3. Domínguez, José J., 2023. "Diversified committees in hiring processes: Lab evidence on group dynamics," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    4. Marie Courtemanche & Joanne Connor Green, 2017. "The Influence of Women Legislators on State Health Care Spending for the Poor," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-24, April.
    5. Migheli, Matteo, 2022. "Lost in election. How different electoral systems translate the voting gender gap into gender representation bias," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    6. Patrick E. Shea & Charlotte Christian, 2017. "The Impact of Women Legislators on Humanitarian Military Interventions," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 61(10), pages 2043-2073, November.

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