Resumen de Rethinking Descriptive Representation: Rendering Women in Legislative Debates

Jennifer M. Piscopo

• This article addresses debates on identity and interest representation by re-conceptualising descriptive representation. The article revisits Pitkins original work, arguing that descriptive representatives actively ‘stand for’ their constituents by making claims about group members needs, circumstances and values. The utility of this re-conceptualisation is explored by analysing parliamentarians speeches supporting and opposing sexual health reforms in Argentina. Female legislators, particularly those elected under quotas, will portray female constituents reproductive health needs through varied ideological prisms and narrative strategies. Reformulating descriptive representation as ‘claim-making’ usefully sidesteps debates about essentialism, recognises intra-group diversity, and establishes new avenues for empirical analysis based on legislators public speeches and statements.