Who Speaks for Whom? Parliamentary Participation of Women in the Post-1991 Ethiopia

Abstract

The claim that women are half the sky is more than a cliché when it comes to real political representation and rendering true women agency. Ethiopia has embarked on the recognition of women empowerment and representation, and indeed has achieved substantial changes in light of the statistical share of women in lower parliamentary houses. Although this is a token much praise among academics, however, in light of its sustainability and what their presence in these houses constitutes and the real power of representation and women agency, there is a lot not yet achieved. This is because their representation is not cognizant of the realization of their real capabilities and free women agency to stand for themselves and not because of an obligation imposed on the political parties through mandatory legislation. This study based on the secondary literature survey of women parliamentary representation in Ethiopia contends that the subaltern status of women, despite substantial statistical presence in lower parliamentary houses, which is also the result of absence of strong political parties’ competition, has not been significantly changed that they still cannot speak for themselves.