A representação substantiva de mulheres à luz da teoria construtivista: potencialidades e limitações para a análise empírica

Abstract

This dissertation approaches the topic of substantive representation of women in light of the constructivist theory of representation. From the criticism directed to the traditional model of political representation, based on the principal-agent unidirectional relationship and the electoral mechanisms of authorization and accountability, the constructivist approach proposes to think about the representative activity from the idea of creation. In this view, the representative plays an active role in the constitution of the ones he represents, creating the possibility of more dynamic and fluid representative relationships. Through the choice of three cases of elected representatives at the three levels of the legislative power in the state of Minas Gerais, we seek to give more materiality to a set of questions that are often treated abstractly. That way, we hope to offer a contribution to the studies about the substantive representation of women, in the sense of generating new questions and hypothesis, and laying the foundations to an empiric analysis model in light of the constructivist theory of representation.