Erin Tolley – författare

Electing a Diverse Canada presents the most extensive analysis to date of the electoral representation of immigrants, minorities, and women in Canada. Covering eleven cities as well as Canada's Parliament, it breaks new ground by assessing the representation of diverse identity groups across multiple levels of government.The book begins by introducing the literature on electoral representation and the main concepts and frameworks underlying research on immigrants, women, and minorities. Using survey and census data, its chapters provide snapshots of officials elected at municipal, provincial, and federal levels, and compares these to portraits of the general population. The volume concludes by reviewing key findings and discussing patterns of over- and under-representation in Canadian government.Electoral representation is an important indicator of a democracy's health, yet there is limited research on how well elected representatives reflect the characteristics of voters. Electing a Diverse Canada provides a baseline for future research, not only by assessing electoral representation, but also by outlining key challenges impeding the future health of Canadian democracy.

Framed is a wake-up call for those who think that race does not matter in Canada. Combining an empirical analysis of print media with in-depth interviews of elected officials, former candidates, political staffers, and journalists, this book uncovers the connections between race, media coverage, and politics in Canada. As Erin Tolley reveals, overt racism rarely occurs in the pages of Canadian newspapers, but assumptions about race and diversity often influence media coverage. Consequently, as reporters go about selecting which political issues and events to cover, who to quote, and how to frame stories to make them resonate with the public, they give visible minorities less prominent and more negative media coverage than their white counterparts. Visible minority politicians are also more likely to be portrayed as products of their socio-demographic backgrounds, as uninterested in pressing policy issues, and as less electorally viable. The resulting news coverage, Tolley argues, does much to weaken Canada's commitment to a robust, inclusive democracy.

Delving into the pressing topic of gender and politics, this volume provides fresh comparative perspectives on "what works" to promote women in politics today. Inspiring and informative, Women, Power, and Political Representation offers a comprehensive overview of the role women play in contemporary politics, and pinpoints the reasons behind their underrepresentation. Discussing the challenges and opportunities women face when running for office, as well as their experiences as political leaders, this book offers a broad and thoughtful overview of the pitfalls encountered by women, from gender biases to sexual harassment, in the notoriously male dominated political arena. Featuring a range of voices that articulate a path towards women’s political advancement and equality, Women, Power, and Political Representation is an important and timely resource for scholars, students, and women working professionally in Canadian and international politics.