Minority Rights and Representation

1
Minority Rights and Representation
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What is appropriate representation?

• Under-representation of women in U.S. Government
• Is this a problem? Should women have guaranteed
  representation?
• Slippery slope arguments
• Why not require proportional rep. of every social
  group?
• Why not elect a single person to rep. everyone?

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4 Arguments for Gender Parity

• 1. Role models
• not a political argument
• 2. Principle of justice between sexes
• 3. Interests argument
• 4. Revitalization of democracy argument

4
Principle of justice between sexes

• P1. The fact that women are under-represented in
  politics shows that there is some intentional or
  structural discrimination, which is unjust.
• P2. But an injustice cannot justify the
  under-representation.
• C. Therefore there should be equal representation.

5
Interest Argument

• P1. In a heterogeneous society, there is no
  obvious public interest, but rather a competition
  of varied interests.
• P2. The multiplicity of interests keeps them in
  check.
• P3. Women have a distinct position in society, so
  womens interests need to be represented.
• P4. The right to vote, alone, does not guarantee
  that interests will be represented
• C. There need to be women politicians.

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Revitalizing Democracy

• By significantly changing the composition of the
  elected assemblies, the character of democracy
  will change for the better.