Women's Representation WorldwideThere is no country in the world whose representative body fully reflects the percentage of women in its population. However, some come closer than others. Nordic countries average roughly 40%, more than twice that of North America. These countries all use some form of full representation. Germany uses a mixed system whereby some seats are elected using full representation and others from single member districts Data from these countries is especially valuable in comparing the effectiveness of both systems. In the 1994 German election, the percentage of women elected from single-member districts was 13%--about the same as in the United States--while the percentage elected from the full representation contests was 39%. These two countries demonstrate that when all cultural and geographic factors are equal, full representation typically results in higher representation of women.
Cultural values are another important factor in women’s representation, but even countries where social norms discourage women’s political involvement, women benefit from full representation. Switzerland, for example, did not grant women the right to vote until 1971; yet using a full representation system, women today compose 24% of the Swiss legislature. In less than 40 years, Switzerland has achieved higher women's representation than the U.S.
Full representation helps, by increasing access to a greater number of candidates. All other factors aside, women are almost twice as likely to be elected under proportional representation than in majoritarian systems. Moreover, other measures aimed at increasing women's representation -- such as quotas for minimum numbers of candidates are much easier to impliment under full representation systems, where parties nominate several candidates at once.
Afghanistan is aiming to hold elections in 2005. If all goes as planned, the nation’s legislative body of 250 delegates will be elected directly through a system of proportional representation. The system also includes a quota requiring a minimum of two female delegates from each province, meaning the body will be at least 25% women.
In the Iraqi elections, all political parties had to submit lists of candidates where every third person was a woman. This again will guarantee at least 25% of all elected delegates are women. U.S. authorities have committed $260 million to organize the elections.
The United States is supporting an electoral system in Afghanistan and Iraq which could also be effectively employed for itself. If the elections go as planned, Iraqi and Afghani women will have twice the representation as American women, despite their recent recovery from oppressive regimes.