Blending In and Sticking Out: Performing legitimacy claims to become (a) representative

Abstract

This paper reflects on how minoritised representatives perform their role in racialised and gendered institutions, drawing on the case of Assita Kanko for illustration. It argues that politicians who deviate from the institutional norm, will need to establish themselves as legitimate subject-positions. This to become legitimate claim-makers, before they can make any more general representative claims. They can do so by either drawing on established repertoires and scripts, or on their past experiences. The former to align themselves with the somatic norm, and the latter to become a recognised authority on the subjects they claim to represent.