Just as Latin American countries began to transition to democracy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the region also saw gains in social, cultural and economic gender equality. In accordance with modernization theories, women in the region have also made significant inroads into elected office. However, these gains vary a great deal between countries in Latin America. They also vary significantly at different levels of government even within the same country. Inside government arenas, representation is highly gendered with rules and norms that advantage men and disadvantage women, limiting women's access to full political power. While one might expect these variations to map onto socioeconomic and cultural conditions within each country, they don't correlate. This book makes, for the first time, a comprehensive comparison of gender and representation across the region -- in seven countries -- and at five different levels: the presidency, cabinets, national legislatures, political parties, and subnational governments. Overall, it argues that gender inequality in political representation in Latin America is rooted in democratic institutions and the democratic challenges and political crises facing the region. Institutions and political context not only influence the number of women and men elected to office, but also what they do once in office, the degree of power to which they gain access, and how their presence and actions influence democracy and society, more broadly. Drawing on the expertise of scholars of women, gender, and political institutions, this book is the most comprehensive analysis of women's representation in Latin America to date, and an important resource for research on women's representation worldwide. The causes, consequences, and challenges to women's representation in Latin America are not unique to that region, and the book uses Latin American patterns to draw broad conclusions about gendered representation in other areas of the world.

About the Author
Leslie A. Schwindt-Bayer is Associate Professor of Political Science at Rice University. She is author of Political Power and Women's Representation in Latin America and co-author of The Gendered Effects of Electoral Institutions.

Reviews
"This book brings together an extraordinary group of scholars who expertly weave together theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich chapters examining gender and democratic representation in Latin America. The collection will be an invaluable resource for those studying comparative political institutions, illuminating the way forward for future research." --Miki Caul Kittilson, Arizona State University "This work is the definitive text on women's political representation in Latin America, and a must-read for scholars of gender and politics and political institutions alike." --Diana Z. O'Brien, Texas A&M University "This is the book that scholars of gender and Latin America have been waiting for-it is a truly impressive achievement and will be an essential text for years to come." --Melody E. Valdini, Portland State University



Book Information
ISBN 9780190851231
Author Leslie A. Schwindt-Bayer
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 558g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 231mm * 23mm