The article analyzes the relationship between representation and political participation, based on the study of the influence that associative bonds exert on the performance and parliamentary activity of federal deputies who served in the 2003-2007, 2007-2011, 2011-2015 legislatures. The theoretical framework presents the study by M. Warren that deals with the relationship between democracy and associations. Data were collected on the Chamber of Deputies Portal. We investigated the number of projects proposed by female MPs and their presence in leadership positions. Based on these data, we seek to relate them to the associative links of female parliamentarians and verify whether these links established prior to entering parliament are capable of influencing female parliamentary performance, and thus contribute to the debate on the relationship between participation and representation for the democratic legitimacy.