Abstract
Gender inequality still exists in China. One of its reasons and manifestations is the low political participation of rural women. The data analysis of 970 questionnaires reveals that current political participation of rural women is characterized by low number, lack of motivation and organization, and self-interest driven participation. This article seeks to interpret their low po-litical participation from the perspective of neo-institutionalism. It argues that this low participation has been caused by informal institutions, such as the restraints of traditional gender concepts, women’s lack of desire for per-sonal rights and weak sense of organization, as well as by formal institutions, including imperfect policy system and women organizations in the rural are-as. Consequently, improving rural women’s political participation should start with reforming these institutions.
Highlights
This article seeks to interpret their low political participation from the perspective of neo-institutionalism. It argues that this low participation has been caused by informal institutions, such as the restraints of traditional gender concepts, women’s lack of desire for personal rights and weak sense of organization, as well as by formal institutions, including imperfect policy system and women organizations in the rural areas
The political participation of rural women is related to the democratic political construction in China
Promoting their political participation is an important task in this epoch of enhancing national administration competence and modernizing administration system
Summary
Rural women’s political participation should be improved, which is the most fundamental political act and determines the number and level of overall women’s political participation in China (World Economic Forum, 2016). Rural women become an importance force in rural constructions or village policy making In this respect, to encourage the political participation of rural women will contribute to gender equality in China, and to the modernization of rural villages. Considering the subject of this research and their inequality in China, this paper defines “rural women’s political participation” as their participation in village government and their influence on village decision-making through their roles in such general activities as village elections, meetings, and administrations as well as gender specific organizations such as Women’s Federations
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