The essays in this book constitute a comparative move toward defining new and unified theoretical orientations to studying representation among women. The book begins with a theoretical positioning of the meaning of women's interests, issues and preferences. It then looks at descriptive representation in political parties, high courts, and legislatures, as well as how definitions of ‘interest’ affect who represents women in legislatures and social movements. Chapters include cases from the United States, Latin America, Western Europe and Africa. Contents: 1. Dilemmas in the meaning and measurement of representation / Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon, and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson: 2. Plotting the path from one to the other / Karen Beckwith: 3. Intersectional representation or representing intersectionality? / Ange-Marie Hancock: 4. Representing women / Drude Dahlerup: 5. The effect of preferential voting on women’s representation / Richard E. Matland, and Emelie Lilliefeldt: 6. Gender, high courts, and ideas about representation in Western Europe / Valerie Hoekstra, Miki Caul Kittilson, and Elizabeth Andrews Bond: 7. Political inclusion and representation of afrodescendant women in Latin America / Mala Htun: 8. How civil society represents women / Alice J. Kang: 9. Unpacking women’s issues / Michele L. Swers: 10. Representing women’s interests and intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity in US State Legislatures / Beth Rein Gold, and Kerry L. Haynie: 11. Representing women / Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon, Leslie A. Schwindt-Bayer, and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson: 12. Does presence produce representation of interests? / Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon, and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson