Women's Decreased Political Representation in Postwar Sierra Leone: A Backlash or Lethargy?

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Women's political empowerment strategies have produced important policy and institutional changes, including increased women's political representation in postwar Sierra Leone, notably at the appointment level. However, these advances seem to be consistently met with different forms of resistance, including violence. The awareness among women and men of the importance of women's political representation is not reflected in the number of women nominated by their political parties even as many women continue to aspire for elected positions. This article examines reasons for this trend, focusing on the firsthand perspectives from both male and female politicians on the policies and programs of women's advocacy organizations geared at increasing women's political participation using the 50/50 Group, one of the oldest women's advocacy organizations in Sierra Leone, as a case study.