Parity Democracy explores the evolution and influence ofFrance’s gender parity reforms, from their historical roots totheir recent extension beyond the electoral sphere.

In recent years, several countries have adopted measures such ascandidate gender quotas to increase women’s presence in electoralpolitics. France adopted gender parity reforms – laws to ensureequal access to elected office for women and men – in 1999and 2000. What influence have these reforms had on women’spolitical representation?

In Parity Democracy, Jocelyne Praud and Sandrine Dauphinassess the evolution of France’s gender parity reforms, fromtheir historical roots to their recent extension beyond the electoralsphere. Drawing on interviews with both parity advocates and opponents,as well as on key European and French legal documents, they show thatalthough parity reforms have not dramatically boosted women’srepresentation in the National Assembly, they have set in motion aprocess of feminization in the electoral sphere that bodes well for thefuture of parity democracy.