Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T20:51:53.209Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Chamber of One's Own: Institutional Claim-Making on Gender Equality and the Symbolic Role of Parliaments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2020

Tània Verge Open the ORCID record for Tània Verge [Opens in a new window]
Tània Verge*
Affiliation:
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article investigates how legislatures may re-present themselves through claim-making on behalf of the institution. Focusing on claims about gender equality, attention is paid to the Women's Parliament organized by the Parliament of Catalonia, an all-women event through which female members of Parliament and social activists came together to put forth a feminist political agenda. Drawing on a constructivist approach, I disentangle the intentions of the institution, examine the discursive construction and performative enactment of the representative claim, and assess its reception by different audiences. I also reflect on how the symbolic activity undertaken within and by parliaments can recast ideas and practices of representation to promote more radical and inclusive politics. Overall, the article evinces that symbolic representation can be studied as a dimension in its own right and that, rather than being a mere by-product, it does co-constitute descriptive and substantive representation.

Keywords

Symbolic representationrepresentative claim-makingparliamentsfeminismgender equalitywomen's movement
Type
Research Article
Information
Politics & Gender , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 2022 , pp. 95 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Women and Politics Research Section of the American Political Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

As a feminist activist and academic, I owe a debt of gratitude to Montse Pineda Lorenzo, Marina Garcia Soler, and Marta Espasa Macias for their hard work and enthusiasm in the organization of the Women's Parliament and for the time they have dedicated to me in both formal interviews and informal conversations about what it means to gender political institutions. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira and to the anonymous reviewers of this journal for their constructive comments that encouraged me to strengthen this article.

References

REFERENCES

Alfageme, Alba. 2019. “Alletant al Parlament de les Dones” [Breastfeeding in the Women's Parliament]. Ara, July 5. https://www.ara.cat/opinio/Alba-Alfageme-Alletant-Parlament-dones_0_2264773725.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Celis, Karen, and Childs, Sarah, eds. 2014. Gender, Conservatism and Political Representation. Colchester, UK: ECPR Press.Google Scholar
Diario.es. 2019. “Las mujeres reivindican su lugar en el Parlament y ocupan sus 135 escaños por una tarde” [Women reclaim their place in Parliament and occupy its 135 seats for a day]. July 1. https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/mujeres-reivindican-Parlament-ocupan-escanos_0_915859103.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Disch, Linda. 2015. “The ‘Constructivist Turn’ in Democratic Representation: A Normative Dead-End?” Constellations 22 (4): 487–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dryzek, John S., and Niemeyer, Simon. 2008. “Discursive Representation.” American Political Science Review 102 (4): 481–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El Món. 2019. “El Parlament de les Dones marca una agenda feminista per Catalunya” [The Women's Parliament sets out a feminist agenda for Catalonia]. July 1. https://www.elmon.cat/politica/el-parlament-de-les-dones-marca-una-agenda-feminista-per-catalunya_1937079102.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El Nacional. 2020. “Les 59 diputades del Parlament reivindiquen el Dia de la Dona” [The 59 female MPs vindicate International Women's Day]. March 5. https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/societat/59-diputades-parlament-reivindiquen-dia-dona_476505_102.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El País. 2019a. “Massive Marches in Spain Display the Strength of the Feminist Movement.” March 9. https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/08/inenglish/1552051103_915747.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El País. 2019b. “El feminisme aconsegueix una foto històrica al Parlament” [Feminism obtains a historic picture in Parliament]. July 2. https://cat.elpais.com/cat/2019/07/02/catalunya/1562049276_764908.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El Periódico. 2019. “El Parlament es de ellas” [The Parliament is women's]. July 1. https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20190701/sesion-especial-del-parlament-de-les-dones-7531056 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El Punt Avui. 2019. “Les dones prenen el Parlament per reivindicar la igualtat i demanar quotes” [Women take over Parliament to vindicate equality and demand quotas]. July 1. https://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/17-politica/1629555-les-dones-prenen-el-parlament-per-denunciar-la-desigualtat-i-demanar-quotes.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
El Punt Avui. 2020. “Torrent reclama un Parlament ‘feminista’ que sigui ‘exemplar en matèria d'igualtat’” [Torrent urges for a “feminist” Parliament that “is a role model in the field of gender equality”]. January 17. https://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/17-politica/1725740-torrent-reclama-un-parlament-feminista-que-sigui-exemplar-en-materia-d-igualtat.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Espírito-Santo, Ana, and Verge, Tània. 2017. “The Elusive Measurement of Symbolic Effects on Citizens’ Political Attitudes.” Politics, Groups, and Identities 5 (3): 494–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Espírito-Santo, Ana, Verge, Tània, and Morales, Laura. 2019. “Descriptive Representation beyond Gender.” In Iberian Legislatures in Comparative Perspective, eds. Fernandes, Jorge M. and Leston-Bandeira, Cristina. London: Routledge, 111–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eulau, Heinz, and Karps, Paul D.. 1977. “The Puzzle of Representation: Specifying Components of Responsiveness.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 2 (3): 233–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). 2018. Gender-Sensitive Parliaments Toolkit. Vilnius: EIGE. https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/toolkits/gender-sensitive-parliaments (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Forcadell Lluís, Carme. 2019. “Carta a les companyes diputades i dones del Consell Nacional de les Dones de Catalunya” [Letter to my fellow female MPs and to the members of the Women's National Council of Catalonia]. La Humanitat, July 1. https://www.esquerra.cat/ca/carta-forcadell-esquerra-erc-parlament-ple-dones-feminisme (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, Annesley, Claire, and Beckwith, Karen. 2017. “What Do Women Symbolize? Symbolic Representation and Cabinet Appointments.” Politics, Groups, and Identities 5 (3): 488–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, Krook, Mona L., and Piscopo, Jennifer M., eds. 2012. The Impact of Gender Quotas. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geertz, Clifford. 1973. The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Goodin, Robert E. 2004. “Representing Diversity.” British Journal of Political Science 34 (3): 453–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendriks, Carolyn M., and Kay, Adrian. 2019. “From ‘Opening Up’ to Democratic Renewal: Deepening Public Engagement in Legislative Committees.” Government and Opposition 54 (1): 25–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2016. Evaluating the Gender Sensitivity of Parliaments. A Self-Assessment Toolkit. Geneva: IPU. https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/toolkits/2016-11/evaluating-gender-sensitivity-parliaments-self-assessment-toolkit (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Judge, David, and Leston-Bandeira, Cristina. 2018. “The Institutional Representation of Parliament.” Political Studies 66 (1): 154–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelso, Alexandra. 2007. “Parliament and Political Disengagement: Neither Waving nor Drowning.” Political Quarterly 78 (3): 364–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
La Vanguardia. 2019. “El ‘Parlament de les dones’ plantea situar la igualdad en el ‘centro de la agenda política’” [The “Women's Parliament” puts equality “at the center of the political agenda”]. July 1. https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/20190701/463211847548/el-parlament-de-les-dones-plantea-situar-la-igualdad-en-el-centro-de-la-agenda-politica.html (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Leston-Bandeira, Cristina. 2012. “Parliaments’ Endless Pursuit of Trust: Re-focusing on Symbolic Representation.” Journal of Legislative Studies 18 (3–4): 514–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leston-Bandeira, Cristina. 2016. “Why Symbolic Representation Frames Parliamentary Public Engagement.” British Journal of Politics and International Relations 18 (2): 498–516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lombardo, Emanuela, and Meier, Petra. 2014. The Symbolic Representation of Gender: A Discursive Approach. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Lombardo, Emanuela, and Meier, Petra. 2017. “Capturing in Words what a Symbol Symbolizes? Challenges for Studying Symbolic Representation from a Discursive Approach.” Politics, Groups, and Identities 5 (3): 482–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lombardo, Emanuela, and Meier, Petra. 2019. “The Significance of Symbolic Representation for Gender Issues in Politics.” NORA—Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research 27 (4): 231–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansbridge, Jane. 1999. “Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent ‘Yes.’” Journal of Politics 61 (3): 628–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, Sally F., and Myerhoff, Barbara G.. 1977. “Introduction: Secular Ritual: Forms and Meanings.” In Secular Ritual, eds. Moore, Sally F. and Myerhoff, Barbara G.. Amsterdam: Van Gorcum, 3–24.Google Scholar
Moscrop, David R. H., and Warren, Mark E.. 2016. “When Is Deliberation Democratic?” Journal of Public Deliberation 12 (2): Article 4. https://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol12/iss2/art4 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Nació Digital. 2019. “Les dones alcen la veu al Parlament per impulsar una agenda feminista” [Women raise their voice in Parliament to stir a feminist agenda]. July 1. https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/183188/dones/alcen/veu/al/parlament/impulsar/agenda/feminista (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2019a. Agreement of the Bureau of the Parliament of Catalonia to organize the Women's Parliament. Barcelona: Parlament de Catalunya.Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2019b. “Video of the Women's Parliament.” July 1. https://www.parlament.cat/pcat/parlament/parlament-genere/parlament-dones/ (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2019c. Women's Parliament: Declaration. https://www.parlament.cat/document/actualitat/6451124.pdf (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2019d. Resolution 693/XII of the Parliament of Catalonia, on the Recognition and Guarantee of Women's Rights. December 19. https://www.parlament.cat/document/nom/12b505.pdf#page=3 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2019e. “Video of the Single-Issue Plenary Session on Women's Rights.” December 17. https://www.parlament.cat/ext/f?p=700:15:0:::15:P15_ID_VIDEO,P15_ID_AGRUPACIO:12741889,17488 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Parlament de Catalunya. 2020. Pla d'Igualtat de Gènere del Parlament de Catalunya 2020–23 [Gender Equality Plan, Parliament of Catalonia (2020–23)]. https://www.parlament.cat/document/actualitat/53018704.pdf (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Phillips, Anne. 1995. The Politics of Presence. Oxford: Oxford University PressGoogle Scholar
Pitkin, Hannah Fenichel. 1967. The Concept of Representation. Berkeley: University of California Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prior, Alex. 2018. “Getting the Story Right: A Constructivist Interpretation of Storytelling in the Context of UK Parliamentary Engagement.” Politics and Governance 6 (4): 83–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Puwar, Nirmal. 2004. Space Invaders: Race, Gender and Bodies out of Place. Oxford: Berg.Google Scholar
Rai, Shirin M. 2010. “Analysing Ceremony and Ritual in Parliament.” Journal of Legislative Studies 16 (3): 284–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rai, Shirin M. 2015. “Political Performance: A Framework for Analysing Democratic Politics.” Political Studies 63 (5): 1179–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rai, Shirin M. 2017. “Performance and Politics: An Approach to Symbolic Representation.” Politics, Groups, and Identities 5 (3): 506–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roqueta, Marta. 2019. “Parlament de les Dones” [Women's Parliament]. El Periódico, July 2. https://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/opinio/20190702/parlament-de-les-dones-article-opinio-marta-roqueta-7533099 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Saward, Michael. 2006. “The Representative Claim.” Contemporary Political Theory 5 (3): 297–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saward, Michael. 2010. The Representative Claim. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A., and Mishler, William. 2005. “An Integrated Model of Women's Representation.” Journal of Politics 67 (2): 407–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torrent Ramió, Roger. 2018. “Un pla d'igualtat pel Parlament de Catalunya” [A gender action plan for the Parliament of Catalonia]. El Períodico, September 14. https://www.elperiodico.com/es/opinion/20180914/articulo-opinion-roger-torrent-un-plan-de-igualdad-para-parlament-catalunya-7035129 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Torres Quintão, Thales. 2018. “Participation in Legislatures: Meanings and Justifications.” PSA Parliaments Group Blog, December 12. https://parliamentsandlegislatures.wordpress.com/2018/12/12/participation-in-legislatures-meanings-and-justifications/#more-2678 (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Verge, Tània, de la Fuente, Maria, and Duran, Mireia. 2019. Diagnosi del Pla d'Igualtat del Parlament de Catalunya [Gender audit of the Equality Plan of the Parliament of Catalonia]. Barcelona: Institut iQ. https://www.parlament.cat/document/actualitat/38460679.pdf (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Verge, Tània, and Pastor, Raquel. 2018. “Women's Political Firsts and Symbolic Representation.” Journal of Women, Politics & Policy 39 (1): 26–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vilaweb. 2019. “I exclama des del faristol: ‘Companyes, ja som aquí!’ La lluita feminista fa seu el ple del Parlament de Catalunya” [And she exclaims from the stand: “Sisters, here we are at last!”]. July 1. https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/ple-de-les-dones-parlament-catalunya/ (accessed June 21, 2020).Google Scholar
Waylen, Georgina. 2014. “Space and Symbols: Transforming Parliamentary Buildings in South Africa and Germany.” In Democracy in Practice, eds. Rai, Shirin M. and Johnson, Rachel E.. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 211–33.Google Scholar
Young, Iris M. 2000. Inclusion and Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar