Contagious Representation (Paperback)

Frank C. Thames

ISBN 10: 0814784461 / ISBN 13: 9780814784464

Published by New York University Press, New York, 2015

About this Item

Paperback. Women's participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this global increase in women's representation masks significant variation among different democratic political systems. For example, in December of 2009, Rwanda's legislature contained 56% women, while the U.S. Congress contained only about 17% and the Japanese Diet had only 11%. Since 2000, only twenty-seven women have achieved executive office worldwide. Contagious Representation is a comprehensive look at women's participation in all aspects of public life in the main democratic political institutionsthe executive, the judiciary, the legislature, and within political parties. Moving beyond studies of single countries and institutions, Contagious Representation presents original data from 159 democratic countries spanning 50 years, providing a comprehensive understanding of women in democracies worldwide. The first volume to offer an analysis on all avenues for women's participation for such a lengthy time period, Contagious Representation examines not only the causes of women's representation in the main democratic political institutions but also how women's representation in one institution affects the others. Each chapter contains case studies and examples of the change in women's participation over time from around the world. Thames and Williams definitively explain the rise, decline, or stagnant levels of women's political participation, considering how representation is contagious across political institutions and gaining a better understanding of what factors affect women's political participation. Women’s participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this global increase in women’s representation masks significant variation among different democratic political systems. For example, in December of 2009, Rwanda’s legislature contained 56% women, while the U.S. Congress contained only about 17% and the Japanese Diet had only 11%. Since 2000, only twenty-seven women have achieved executive office worldwide. Contagious Representation is a comprehensive look at women’s participation in all aspects of public life in the main democratic political institutions—the executive, the judiciary, the legislature, and within political parties.  Moving beyond studies of single countries and institutions, Contagious Representation presents original data from 159 democratic countries spanning 50 years, providing a comprehensive understanding of women in democracies worldwide. The first volume to offer an analysis on all avenues for women’s participation for such a lengthy time period, Contagious Representation examines not only the causes of women’s representation in the main democratic political institutions but also how women’s representation in one institution affects the others. Each chapter contains case studies and examples of the change in women’s participation over time from around the world. Thames and Williams definitively explain the rise, decline, or stagnant levels of women’s political participation, considering how representation is contagious across political institutions and gaining a better understanding of what factors affect women’s political participation. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780814784464

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Contagious Representation (Paperback)
• Publisher: New York University Press, New York
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814784461
• ISBN 13: 9780814784464
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Women’s participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive
offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this
global increase in women’s representation masks significant variation
among different democratic political systems. For example, in
December of 2009, Rwanda’s legislature contained 56% women,
while the U.S. Congress contained only about 17% and the Japanese
Diet had only 11%. Since 2000, only twenty-seven women
have achieved executive office worldwide. Contagious Representation
is a comprehensive look at women’s participation in all aspects
of public life in the main democratic political institutions—the executive,
the judiciary, the legislature, and within political parties.


Moving beyond studies of single countries and institutions, Contagious
Representation presents original data from 159 democratic
countries spanning 50 years, providing a comprehensive understanding
of women in democracies worldwide. The first volume to
offer an analysis on all avenues for women’s participation for such
a lengthy time period, Contagious Representation examines not
only the causes of women’s representation in the main democratic
political institutions but also how women’s representation in one
institution affects the others. Each chapter contains case studies
and examples of the change in women’s participation over time
from around the world. Thames and Williams definitively explain
the rise, decline, or stagnant levels of women’s political participation,
considering how representation is contagious across political
institutions and gaining a better understanding of what factors affect
women’s political participation.

About the Authors

Frank C. Thames is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University.

Margaret S. Williams is Senior Research Associate at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, DC.