The substantive representation of women parliamentarians of the AKP: the case of maternity leave and part-time work

ABSTRACT By reviewing the parliamentary debate surrounding a bill reforming maternity leave and part-time work, we demonstrate that women members of the religious-conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey emphasized women’s motherhood duties within the family and childcare rather than highlighting the shared responsibilities of parents. Particularly, they perceive women as the core unit of family. Women members of AKP follow the religious-conservative claims of the party and perpetuate women’s traditional location in the society. In this sense, women’s substantive representation in the AKP is inherently limited to the gendered claim-making leaving little room for the presence of diverse interests, particularly feminist claim-making demanding gender equality.