A Historical Study on Gender and Representation in the Regional Council of Sardinia (1949-2013)

BENUSSI, SILVIA

2014-01-01

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Abstract

This article provides an account of the access to the legislative assembly of the autonomous region of Sardinia, the Regional Council, since its establishment in 1949, in order to gain a better understanding of the lack of balance between men and women elected to the Regional Council. The article commences with an analysis of Sardinian electoral legislation since 1949; it gives an account of changes in equal opportunity provisions, which started in the 2000s. Furthermore a study is then presented of the asymmetry between men and women in participating in electoral contests as candidates in electoral constituencies. We then proceed to an analysis of the ratio of women candidates standing to those who were actually elected in electoral constituencies; this provides us with a good indication as to whether or not female candidates appeal to the electorate, but also whether the parties themselves provided the necessary support to bring about a solid result or whether women remained merely a symbolic presence in the list of candidates. This article then presents the analysis of the difference between the ratio of men and women candidates standing to those actually elected, to verify if men receive greater support from their parties and appeal more to the electorate. Finally, an account is given of differences in female candidacy among political parties, in order to verify which political party has always put forward a high percentage of female candidates over time.