2023/08/11 by Judith de Jong, Judith C de Jong, Liza Mügge +1
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Gender Politics and Representation #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Social Policy and Reform Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/sp/jxad020
openalex publication_date 2023/08/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract How do ethnically/racially minoritized citizens feel represented by increasingly diverse parliaments? We approach this question intersectionally and study how ethnically/racially minoritized citizens (i) constitute and politicize self-identifications and interests, (ii) assess political representation, and (iii) discuss who represents them. We draw on twelve focus groups with Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese-Dutch citizens (N = 65), and find that citizens’ political self-identifications, rather than predefined group labels, are key to understanding assessments of representation. Citizens prefer politicians who act on their substantive concerns but feel that mainstream parties sometimes fail to do so. Parties led by ethnically/racially minoritized politicians and social movements fill this void by contesting the status quo. An intersectional perspective reveals that symbolic representation by descriptive representatives specifically matters for young women of color who lack role models.