Measuring the Substantive Representation of Women Cross-Nationally: Towards a Composite Index

Abstract

Recent scholarship on women’s substantive representation has expanded from its initial focus on gender inequalities in parliaments and now studies (1) various group interests, (2) in different venues, (3) across different contexts and (4) using different methods and approaches. Building on these advances, we present a new comparative measure of women’s substantive representation. This ‘Substantive Representation Index’ combines eight indicators, linked to two key dimensions of women’s substantive representation, in one composite quantitative index. As such, we offer a consistent modality that allows scholars to measure women’s substantive representation systematically and comparatively across and within democratic countries and over time.