Socio-Cultural Determinants Affecting Political Participation And Satisfaction Of Women Councilors In Faisalabad

Abstract

Women encountered various challenges in political participation such as social, cultural, political and economic that hinder their empowerment. Women wellbeing are attained on social, economic and cultural grounds when they were politically empowered. This current study deals with the socio-cultural determinants and women councilors satisfaction via political involvement during session 2008-2010. The researcher employed the quantitative approach and selected 352 women councilors via systematic sampling technique from three different levels of councils in district Faisalabad. In this study, 83% of the sample was drawn from union council, 8.5% from the town/tehsil and district council. The data were analyzed through SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that most of the women were politically participated in different developmental activities and having a membership of monitoring committee. Most women representatives frequently responded to community problems. However, they encountered obstacles like lack of funds, non-payment of honorarium, salary problem, freedom of choice, mobility and health problems, lack of financial authority, educational attainment, decision making disengagement, separate washroom and waiting room. Bivariate analysis conducted between socioeconomic background of women councilors and political participation. Results indicated that women were more politically groomed and have political opportunities such as affiliation with political parties, having close relatives in politics and having knowledge about Local Government ordinance were more incorporated in political participation. In crux, higher education, professional training, provision of honorarium and freedom of decision making enhance women participation in political activities.