From the national or the local level? Women’s paths to congress in the Andean region and Chile

Abstract

This paper analyses the political paths of congresswomen in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile between 2009 and 2016. Their trajectories are classified according to their previous experience and the territorial levels at which they won elections before entering congress, and includes both novices and professionals. The professionals had prior political experience at either national or subnational level, with some having won re-election (incumbents). Despite the countries’ differing institutional structures, the vast majority held their first political position at national level – in congress (novices). Of the professionals and incumbents, most congresswomen in Chile, Ecuador and Peru began their careers at national level, while in Colombia and Bolivia they began at subnational level.

Keywords

• women
• congress
• political trajectories
• gender and politics
• latin america