Sarah Childs
Search for other papers by Sarah Childs in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Representation
Abstract only
Log-in for full text

From a feminist perspective, traditional conceptions of representation seem insufficient and unsatisfactory. This chapter begins with a discussion of Hanna Pitkin's The Concept of Representation (1967). This seminal book discusses and draws on the contributions of some of the 'great men' of political theory. Pitkin's work has structured subsequent mainstream and feminist discussions. In this chapter, Pitkin's ideas are subjected to the following question: what do her differing conceptions of representation, and especially her preferred definition, offer to discussions of women's political presence? The chapter then turns to feminist engagements with the concept of representation, with Anne Phillips's work without doubt the most influential contribution. It closes with a discussion of feminist political scientists' empirical research into the complicated relationship between women's descriptive and substantive representation in practice. The chapter advocates a shift away from a focus on when, to a focus on how, the substantive representation of women occurs.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

All of MUP's digital content including Open Access books and journals is now available on manchesterhive.

 

Metrics

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2423 2423 253
Full Text Views 0 0 0
PDF Downloads 0 0 0