ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book defines symbolic representation and explains relation to Hanna Pitkin's definition of political representation. It introduces a discursive turn in the analysis of symbolic representation within the gender and politics literature. Symbolic representation can mean political symbolism in general in the sense that flags represent a particular nation or ideology. The book explores gender relations, the social construction of women and men, and especially the way one sex compares and relates to the other. It discusses the function of identity construction related to symbolic representation. It then theorises the concept of identity as a construction of specific social roles and relates it to the construction of gender roles in the public and private spheres. The book looks into the relationship between political representation and power. Political representation, be it descriptive, substantive, or symbolic, is ultimately an issue of power.
