Distinctive Voices: Political Speech, Rhetoric, and the Substantive Representation of Women in European Parliaments

• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12410
• Publication Date: 2023-01-10T10:15:41Z
• Authors: Jens Wäckerle; Bruno Castanho Silva
• Keywords: Optimal distinctiveness theory; Representation

As the share of women in parliaments rises, increased attention is paid to how they substantively represent women. Meanwhile, availability parliamentary speech data has enabled researchers dissect politicians’ rhetorical patterns. We combine these two literatures ask whether differences between men and parliament are connected style, policy, preferences voters. apply machine‐learning models speeches from five West European (2000–18) measure femininity rhetoric used each speech. Results show that talk differently parliament, this distinctiveness due both style substance. Combining results with public opinion surveys, we find MPs have most distinctively “feminine” discourse on issues salient society. These findings showcase direct connection descriptive substantive representation contemporary democracies.