Women’s substantive representation (SRW) is at least theoretically different from women’s descriptive representation. But while scholars have paid much attention to women’s part in SRW, they have given surprisingly little attention to the role of men. Although men are not necessarily absent in studies –many scholars allow at least for the possibility that men represent women’s interests–, it remains unclear to what extent and why men participate in SRW. Based on a cross-national survey of legislators, I study men’s activities on behalf of women in 15 European democracies. I find that men are widespread, constant and significant actors in SRW. Their activities are the result of their access to multiple sources (such as a feminist consciousness) but are also driven by incentives they receive from the electoral and party-political context. I conclude that men are important actors –rather than merely obstacles– in SRW, and need to be theorized accordingly.
