De la presencia a la incidencia: revisión bibliográfica sobre la calidad de la participación política de las mujeres

Abstract

This article offers a bibliographic review of the quality of women's political participation, understood as the effective capacity to influence decision-making processes beyond mere numerical presence. Drawing on indexed academic literature, reports from international organizations, and comparative studies —with an emphasis on Latin America—, the paper identifies key dimensions of the concept: substantive representation, effective leadership, decision-making autonomy, and agency capacity. The findings indicate that, while gender quotas and parity systems have led to significant gains in descriptive representation, a gap persists between presence and real impact. Factors such as political gender violence, cultural stereotypes, exclusionary party dynamics, and limited access to economic resources and power networks constitute structural barriers that undermine the quality of women's political engagement. The conclusion is that moving from presence to impact requires a multidimensional approach combining institutional reforms, cultural change, and the strengthening of women's collective agency.