Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-skm99 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T04:19:40.165Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Dilma Effect? Women's Representation under Dilma Rousseff's Presidency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2015

Farida Jalalzai
Affiliation:
University of Missouri–St. Louis
Pedro G. dos Santos
Affiliation:
Luther College

Extract

Women are making important strides as presidents in Latin America as of late. This trend became evident in 2006 when Michelle Bachelet gained the Chilean presidency. Cristina Fernández followed shortly thereafter in Argentina. In 2010, Dilma Rousseff (popularly referred to as “Dilma”) joined this small yet growing group of women when she was elected the first female president of Brazil. Dilma's victory was no surprise since she had the support of the very popular outgoing president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva. Nevertheless, the fact that Dilma is a woman is noteworthy given that Brazil's political system is overwhelmingly male dominated at all levels of government (Araújo 2010; Bohns 2007; Miguel 2008). Dilma's significance also stems from the fact that, unlike most women national leaders around the world, she occupies a relatively strong presidency, gained office through popular election, and lacked family ties to power (Jalalzai 2013).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Women and Politics Research Section of the American Political Science Association 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aleman, Eduardo, and Tsebelis, George. 2005. “The Origins of Presidential Conditional Agenda-Setting Power in Latin America.” Latin American Research Review 40 (2): 326.Google Scholar
Alexander, Amy C. 2012. “Change in Women's Descriptive Representation and the Belief in Women's Ability to Govern: A Virtuous Cycle.” Politics & Gender 8 (4): 128.Google Scholar
Alves, José Eustáquio Diniz. 2010. “A sub-representação da mulher na política no Brasil e a nova política de cotas nas eleições de 2010.” Presented at the Mídia e Mulheres na Política Conference. São Paulo, Brazil.Google Scholar
Alves, José Eustáquio Diniz. 2012. “Diferenças Sociais E de Gênero Nas Intençōes de Voto Para Presidente Em 2010.” In Mulheres Nas Eleiçōes 2010, ed. Pinto, Celi Regina Jardim, Alves, José Eustáquio Diniz, and Jordao, Fatima. Sao Paulo: ABCP/SPM, 2146.Google Scholar
Aquino, Yara. 2011. “Dilma lança programa para gestantes e bebês e diz que desigualdade é maior na area da saúde.” Agência Brasil. http://memoria.ebc.com.br/agenciabrasil/noticia/2011-03-28/dilma-lanca-programa-para-gestantes-e-bebes-e-diz-que-desigualdade-e-maior-na-area-de-saude (accessed August 19, 2014).Google Scholar
Araújo, Clara. 2003. “Quotas for Women in the Brazilian Legislative System.” Presented at the International IDEA Workshop, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Araújo, Clara. 2010. “Rotas de Ingresso, Trajetórias E Acesso Das Mulheres Ao Legislativo–um Estudo Comparado Entre Brasil E Argentina.” Estudos feministas 18 (2): 567–84.Google Scholar
Baltar da Rocha, Maria Isabel. 2006. “A Discussão Política Sobre Aborto No Brasil: Uma Síntese.” Revista Brasileira de Estudos de População 23 (2): 369–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauer, Gretchen, and Tremblay, Manon, eds. 2011. Women in Executive Power: A Global Overview. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
BBC. 2012. “Brazilian Cities Minister Resigns.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16864676 (accessed November 10, 2014).Google Scholar
Beckwith, Karen. 2005. “A Common Language of Gender?Politics & Gender 1 (1): 128–37.Google Scholar
Beckwith, Karen. 2010. “A Comparative Politics of Gender Symposium Introduction: Comparative Politics and the Logics of a Comparative Politics of Gender.” Perspectives on Politics 8 (1): 159–68.Google Scholar
Bohns, Simone R. 2007. “Women and Candidate Quality in the Elections for the Senate: Brazil and the United States in Comparative Perspective.” Brazilian Political Science Review 1 (2): 74107.Google Scholar
Bratton, Kathleen A., and Ray, Leonard P.. 2002. “Descriptive Representation, Policy Outcomes, and Municipal Day-Care Coverage in Norway.” American Journal of Political Science 46 (2): 428–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camargo, Renata. 2010. “Vox Populi: 82% Da População É Contra Aborto.” Congresso em Foco. http://congressoemfoco.uol.com.br/noticias/vox-populi-82-da-populacao-e-contra-aborto/ (accessed January 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Celis, Karen. 2009. “Substantive Representation of Women (and Improving It): What It Is and Should Be About?Comparative European Politics 7 (1): 95113.Google Scholar
Celis, Karen, and Childs, Sarah. 2008. “Introduction: The Descriptive and Substantive Representation of Women: New Directions.” Parliamentary Affairs 61 (3): 419–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Celis, Karen, Childs, Sarah, Kantola, Johanna, and Krook, Mona Lena. 2008. “Rethinking Women's Substantive Representation.” Representation 44 (2): 99110.Google Scholar
Chaney, Elsa M. 1979. Supermadre: Women in Politics in Latin America. Austin: University of Texas Press.Google Scholar
Childs, Sarah. 2002. “Hitting the Target: Are Labour Women MPs ‘Acting For’ Women?Parliamentary Affairs 55 (1): 143–53.Google Scholar
Childs, Sarah, and Krook, Mona Lena. 2006. “Should Feminists Give up on Critical Mass? A Contingent Yes.” Politics & Gender 2 (4): 523–30.Google Scholar
Childs, Sarah, and Krook, Mona Lena. 2009. “Analysing Women's Substantive Representation: From Critical Mass to Critical Actors.” Government and Opposition 44 (2): 125–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CLAM. 2013. “Sim, Elas Podem, Porém….” Noticias CLAM. http://www.clam.org.br/destaque/conteudo.asp?cod=10219 (accessed March 8, 2013).Google Scholar
Cox, Gary W., and Morgenstern, Scott. 2001. “Latin America's Reactive Assemblies and Proactive Presidents.” Comparative Politics 33 (2): 171–89.Google Scholar
Dodson, Debra L. 2006. The Impact of Women in Congress. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
dos Santos, Pedro. 2012. “Gendering Representation: Parties, Institutions, and The Under-Representation of Women in Brazil's State Legislatures.” Ph.D. diss. University of Kansas.Google Scholar
The Economist. 2011. “Brazil's Government: Exit Palocci.” http://www.economist.com/node/18805830.TSE. 2013. “Tribunal Superior Eleitoral 1994–2010: Electoral Statistics.” http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/eleicoes-anteriores.Google Scholar
Escobar-Lemmon, Maria, and Taylor-Robinson, Michelle M.. 2005. “Women Ministers in Latin American Government: When, Where, and Why?American Journal of Political Science 49 (4): 829–44.Google Scholar
Franceschet, Susan. 2011. “Gender Policy and State Architecture in Latin America.” Politics & Gender 7 (2): 273–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, Krook, Mona Lena, and Piscopo, Jennifer M., eds. 2012. The Impact of Gender Quotas. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, and Piscopo, Jennifer M.. 2008. “Gender Quotas and Women's Substantive Representation: Lessons from Argentina.” Politics & Gender 4 (3): 393425.Google Scholar
Frayssinet, Fabiana. 2010. “Politics-Brazil: Continuity, with a Woman's Face.” Inter Press Service. http://www.ipsnews.net/2010/12/politics-brazil-continuity-with-a-womans-face/ (accessed November 10, 2014).Google Scholar
G1. 2012. “Dilma Anuncia Programa Social Para Famílias Com Crianças de Até 6 Anos.” Brasil. http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2012/05/dilma-anuncia-programa-social-para-familias-com-criancas-de-ate-6-anos.html (accessed January 5, 2013).Google Scholar
The Guardian. 2011. “Brazil's Sports Minister, Orlando Silva, Quits after Corruption Claims.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/27/brazil-sports-minister-orlando-silva (accessed November 10, 2014).Google Scholar
Hennigan, Tom. 2012. “Chauvinistic Brazil Adjusts to Women Being in Charge.” The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0216/1224311852312.html (accessed January 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Htun, Mala. 2002. “Puzzles of Women's Rights in Brazil.” Social Research 69 (3): 733–51.Google Scholar
Htun, Mala, and Power, Timothy J.. 2006. “Gender, Parties, and Support for Equal Rights in the Brazilian Congress.” Latin American Politics and Society 48 (4): 83104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Htun, Mala, and Weldon, S. Laurel. 2010. “When Do Governments Promote Women's Rights? A Framework for the Comparative Analysis of Sex Equality Policy.” Perspectives on Politics 8 (1): 207–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, Melanie M. 2013. “Diversity in National Legislatures Around the World.” Sociology Compass 7 (1): 2333.Google Scholar
Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2014. “Women in National Parliaments.” http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm (accessed November 10, 2014).Google Scholar
Jalalzai, Farida. 2008. “Women Rule: Shattering the Executive Glass Ceiling.” Politics & Gender 4 (2): 205–31.Google Scholar
Jalalzai, Farida. 2013. Shattered, Cracked, or Firmly Intact? Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kometani, Pamela. 2012. “Número de Mulheres Eleitas Prefeitas No 1o Turno Aumenta 31,5% No País.” Eleições 2012. http://g1.globo.com/politica/eleicoes/2012/noticia/2012/10/numero-de-mulheres-eleitas-prefeitas-no-1-turno-aumenta-315-no-pais.html (accessed January 5, 2013).Google Scholar
Kunovich, Sheri, and Paxton, Pamela. 2005. “Pathways to Power: The Role of Political Parties in Women's National Political Representation.” American Journal of Sociology 111 (2): 505–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lazaro, Fred. 2011. “Brazil's Shifting Views of Church, Abortion and Lifestyle.” http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/08/brazil-abortion.html (accessed January 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Lemes, Conceicao. 2011. “Rede Feminista de Saúde Alerta: A Rede Cegonha É Retrocesso de 30 Anos.” Viomundo. http://www.viomundo.com.br/entrevistas/rede-feminista-de-saude-rede-cegonha-e-um-retrocesso-de-30-anos-nas-politicas-de-genero-saude-da-mulher-direitos-reprodutivos-e-sexuais.html (accessed July 26, 2013).Google Scholar
Macedo, Danilo. 2012. “Dilma lança Ação Brasil Carinhoso, complemento ao Bolsa Família | Carta Capital.” Carta Capital. http://www.cartacapital.com.br/sociedade/dilma-lanca-acao-brasil-carinhoso-complemento-ao-bolsa-familia/ (accessed January 5, 2013).Google Scholar
Mackay, Fiona. 2008. “‘Thick’ Conceptions of Substantive Representation: Women, Gender, and Political Institutions.” Representation 44 (2): 125–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansbridge, Jane. 1999. “Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent ‘Yes.’The Journal of Politics 61 (3): 628–57.Google Scholar
Mansbridge, Jane. 2003. “Rethinking Representation.” American Political Science Review 97 (4): 515–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McAllister, Ian, and Studlar, Donley T.. 2002. “Electoral Systems and Women's Representation: A Long-term Perspective.” Representation 39 (1): 314.Google Scholar
Mendes, Priscilla. 2013. “Dilma Anuncia Na TV Desoneração de Produtos Da Cesta Básica.” Economia. http://g1.globo.com/economia/noticia/2013/03/dilma-anuncia-na-tv-desoneracao-total-de-produtos-da-cesta-basica.html (accessed March 9, 2013).Google Scholar
Miguel, Luis F. 2008. “Political Representation and Gender in Brazil: Quotas for Women and Their Impact.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 27 (2): 197214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão. 2013. “Orçamentos Anuais.” Orçamento. http://www.planejamento.gov.br/secretaria.asp?cat=50&sec=8 (accessed May 15, 2013).Google Scholar
Molyneux, Maxine. 1985. “Mobilization without Emancipation? Women's Interests, the State, and Revolution in Nicaragua.” Feminist Studies 11 (2): 227.Google Scholar
Morgan, Jana, and Buice, Melissa. 2013. “Latin American Attitudes toward Women in Politics: The Influence of Elite Cues, Female Advancement, and Individual Characteristics.” American Political Science Review 107 (4): 644–62.Google Scholar
Murray, Rainbow. 2010. “Linear Trajectories or Vicious Circles? The Causes and Consequences of Gendered Career Paths in the National Assembly.” Modern & Contemporary France 18 (4): 445–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pitkin, Hanna F. 1967. The Concept of Representation. Oakland: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Pollack, Sorcha. 2012. “The Dilma Effect.” Pinkvox. http://pinkvox.com/the-dilma-effect/ (accessed January 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Rodrigues, Eduardo. 2011. “Bolsa Família É Feito Para as Mulheres, Diz Dilma.” Estadão. http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/nacional,bolsa-familia-e-feito-para-as-mulheres-diz-dilma,689015,0.htm (accessed January 5, 2013).Google Scholar
Romero, Simon. 2012. “Brazil's Ex-President Da Silva Back on Political Front Lines.” The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/world/americas/brazils-ex-president-lula-back-on-political-front-lines.html (accessed October 26, 2012).Google Scholar
Rousseff, Dilma. 2012. Discurso Da Presidenta Da Republica, Dilma Rousseff, Na Sessao Solene Do Congresso Nacional Em Homenagem Ao Dia Internacional Da Mulher E Entrega Do Premio Diploma Mulher-Cidada Bertha Luz. Plenario do Senado Nacional. http://www2.planalto.gov.br/acompanhe-o-planalto/discursos/discursos-da-presidenta/discurso-da-presidenta-da-republica-dilma-rousseff-na-sessao-solene-do-congresso-nacional-em-homenagem-ao-dia-internacional-da-mulher-e-entrega-do-premio-diploma-mulher-cidada-bertha-lutz-brasilia-df (accessed November 14, 2014).Google Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A. 2006. “Still Supermadres? Gender and the Policy Priorities of Latin American Legislators.” American Journal of Political Science 50 (3): 570–85.Google Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A. 2010. Political Power and Women's Representation in Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Squires, Judith. 2008. “The Constitutive Representation of Gender: Extra-Parliamentary Re-Presentations of Gender Relations.” Representation 44 (2): 187204.Google Scholar
Stuckert Filho, Roberto. 2012. “Dilma muda ‘Minha Casa’ para beneficiar mulher.” Exame.com. http://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/noticias/dilma-muda-minha-casa-para-beneficiar-mulher-2 (accessed August 19, 2014).Google Scholar
Swers, Michele L. 2002. The Difference Women Make: The Policy Impact of Women in Congress. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sykes, Patricia Lee. 1993. “Women as National Leaders.” In Women as National Leaders, ed. Genovese, Michael A.. London: Sage Publications, 219–29.Google Scholar
Thames, Frank C., and Williams, Margaret S.. 2010. “Incentives for Personal Votes and Women's Representation in Legislatures.” Comparative Political Studies 43 (12): 15751600.Google Scholar
Tesouro Nacional. 2013. “Relatório Resumido de Execução Orçamentária.” Contabilidade Governamental: Relatório e Demonstrativos. http://www3.tesouro.fazenda.gov.br/contabilidade_governamental/relatorio_resumido.asp (accessed November 10, 2014).Google Scholar
Warth, Anne. 2010. “Dilma Diz a Bispo Que Aborto É Questão de Saúde Pública.” Estadão. http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/nacional,dilma-diz-a-bispo-que-aborto-e-questao-de-saude-publica,584680,0.htm (accessed January 7, 2013).Google Scholar