Objective/Context:

The primary purpose of this research is to identify and measure the influence of different institutional, partisan, and biographic variables on the substantive representation of women in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. Most current studies on the subject assent that the presence of more female legislators in congresses is a relevant precondition for an effective promotion of women’s interests. Nevertheless, still little is known about how other variables affect congresswomen’s intention to promote female-oriented bills.

Methodology:

Through interviews with former female legislators recognized for their activism in the interest of women, and using statistical models, the article seeks to explain the elements that may influence the substantive representation of Mexican women through bill sponsorship.

Conclusions:

Proportional representation, the adscription to leftist or minority parties, and legislative, partisan, and civic experiences can increase the propensity of female legislators to press for policy changes in support for women’s demands. On the contrary, one of the main limitations for women’s substantive representation in congress is the accumulation of party leaderships (mostly male) in the principal legislative positions and resolutions.

Originality:

With an original dataset and specifically designed interviews for this study, the research contributes to representation theory by suggesting that, along with the presence of more female legislators, other structural and institutional conditions need to be met for a congress to process the most relevant demands coming from women in a political community.