THE EFFECTIVENESS OF QUOTAS: VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL DISCRIMINATION IN SPAIN

The electoral quota passed in Spain in March 2007 stipulated at least 40% candidates of either sex for all elected offices. Seeking to explore how effective this measure has been in generating conditions of political equality in a broader sense, this article analyses the degree to which this regulat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Representation (McDougall Trust) 2014-07, Vol.50 (3), p.351-364
Main Author: Onate, Pablo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Candidates
Effectiveness
Elections
Electoral systems
Females
Legislative Bodies
Legislature
Nomination
Parliamentary committees
Quota systems
Quotas
Regulation
Segregation
Spain
Women
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Summary:The electoral quota passed in Spain in March 2007 stipulated at least 40% candidates of either sex for all elected offices. Seeking to explore how effective this measure has been in generating conditions of political equality in a broader sense, this article analyses the degree to which this regulation has resulted in a rise in the number of female MPs, as well as to their presence in leading positions and their nomination to a wide range of parliamentary committees. Comparing trends in 18 national and regional legislatures before and after the quota was introduced, the analysis concludes that the quota led to a modest increase in the numbers of women elected, but did little to reduce vertical and horizontal segregation or bridge the gap between nominations to traditionally 'feminine' and 'masculine' portfolios.
ISSN:0034-4893
1749-4001
DOI:10.1080/00344893.2014.951229