Women's Political Representation Research Articles

Constitutional Amendment 106 Women Reservation - What can be Learned from 1/3rd PRI Reservation?

Abstract: Attaining gender inclusion and political empowerment is the goal of the historic Constitutional Amendment for Women's Reservation, which calls for a one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The dynamics of women's participation in grassroots governance can be better understood by looking at the lessons learned from PRIs' implementation of the 1/3rd reservation. In rural local bodies, like as Panchayats, women were required to occupy one-third of the seats under the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992. In an effort to rectify past gender inequalities, increase women's representation in decision-making bodies, and boost their social and political standing, this proactive policy was put in place. The revolutionary effect on women's political engagement is one important takeaway from the one-third reservation in PRIs. Women were able to take part in local administration through the reserved seats, which helped them develop their leadership abilities and increase their visibility in public service. As a result, women's status in communities was enhanced, and decisionmaking became more inclusive and equal. The importance of prioritizing health, education, and social welfare issues is positively correlated with women's political representation, which is another lesson. To address pressing social issues, women PRI officials frequently fought for policies that would have a direct positive effect on women's and marginalized communities' quality of life. In addition, the 1/3rd reservation effort highlighted the significance of initiatives that strengthen the abilities of female leaders. To help women successfully carry out their responsibilities as leaders, educational and training programs were crucial in providing them with the information and abilities they needed to understand and handle the many facets of government. Even with these good results, there are still problems. In many cases, women are unable to reach their full leadership potential due to cultural biases, patriarchal attitudes, and resistance from established power structures. If we want women to have an impact in politics, we need to break down these entrenched stereotypes and create conditions where they feel comfortable taking an active role

Are Women Commissioners More Compassionate Spenders? Evidence From Florida County Governments

While the number of women in government has increased, prior research on whether enhancing women's political representation alters policy choices has produced inconclusive findings. This study asks if higher women's participation in electoral institutions at the local level is associated with a different spending profile. Using Peterson’s typology of developmental, redistributive, and allocational government programs, we argue that legislative bodies with more female members will spend more on redistributive programs than on developmental or allocational. Using data from Florida's 67 counties between 2005 and 2015, our analysis supports this theoretical expectation. In line with critical mass theory, women's representation in county commissions must reach a threshold of about 33% to sway budgetary decision-making toward more extensive redistribution. We also find that the traditional commission form of government intensifies the redistributive effect of women commissioners on county spending while having a home rule charter has no significant effect.

Women in politics: examining their impact on policy development — A comprehensive review

The representation of women in political offices has expanded in every country over the last few decades. Commencing with a historical overview, this review underscores the persistent obstacles and cultural constraints that have hindered women's political engagement. The primary focus is on identifying and dissecting impediments such as ingrained gender prejudices, unequal access to education, and sociocultural constraints. This comprehensive examination explores the crucial role of women in politics and their profound impact on policy formulation. Global attention has increased on gender equity and women's political representation, emphasizing the importance of understanding how women's participation in political decision-making processes influences policy outcomes. The involvement of women in politics, particularly in poorer countries where health and education are priority sectors, has led to improvements in the delivery of public services. The review delves into the political empowerment of women, highlighting the positive social change and role modeling that women in politics can provide in their local areas. Recent studies suggest that the makeup of public expenditure may not necessarily reflect the impact of female representation on legislative debates and specific policy decisions. Female participation has enhanced institutional quality by reducing corruption and yielding benefits for those in positions of responsibility. The review advocates for greater gender diversity in political decision-making by examining obstacles, proposing solutions, and emphasizing the ongoing need for research and advocacy to support and promote the invaluable contributions of women to global policy development.

Understanding Public Support for Policies Aimed at Gender Parity in Politics: A Cross-National Experimental Study

Abstract Across the globe, women are underrepresented in elected politics. The study's case countries of Australia (ranked 33), Canada (61) and the United States (66) rank poorly for women's political representation. Drawing on role strain and gender-mainstreaming theories and applying large-scale survey experiments, we examine public opinion on non-quota mechanisms to bolster women's political participation. The experimental design manipulates the politician's gender and level of government (federal/local) before asking about non-quota supports to help the politician. We find public support for policies aimed at lessening work–family role strain is higher for a woman politician; these include a pay raise, childcare subsidies and housework allowances. This support is amplified among women who are presented with a woman politician in our experiment, providing evidence of a gender-affinity effect. The study's findings contribute to scholarship on gender equality and point to gender-mainstreaming mechanisms to help mitigate the gender gap in politics.

An Overview of Issues and Challenges for Women Sarpanch at Gramapanchayat

Women have an important role in the development and growth of a nation. They are vital for the progress of a civilized society. Without the development of women, it is impossible to envisage the growth of people, families, and society. According to the 73rdAmendment, women must hold at least one-third of the seats in panchayat. With 1.4 million elected female seats, India has the most. Panchayat Raj Institutions have experienced both remarkable success and failure along the 26-year journey to establish genuine women's political representation at the grassroots level of democracy. Due to a number of obstacles, including a lack of awareness, experience, knowledge, talent, leadership quality, low level of education, lack of exposure, etc., it has been unable to provide better governance under the leadership of women representatives across India. Rather, data indicated that the biggest obstacles to women sarpanches performing their role at the village level were lack of experience as leaders, lack of funding from the government for development work, lack of training for women sarpanches, and delays in sanction and permission for development work from the upper level. The chapter attempts to address the problems and challenges faced by women sarpanches in along with potential government initiatives aimed at boosting female involvement in panchayat activities.

A qualitative study on the attitudes of women politicians toward their roles in politics: a case of Northern Cyprus.

Politics is a mechanism of cooperation for the common interest of society. In this mechanism, each individual is expected to participate equally in the leadership and decision-making mechanisms. Women's participation in politics is essential for the spread of good governance and democracy. Globally, political participation is disaggregated by gender, with men's participation greater than women's. A lower representation of women in politics is also observed in Northern Cyprus. The attitudes or views of society and politicians may determine the political participation of women in leadership positions. This study examines the obstacles and determining factors that make it difficult for women to reach leadership positions even though their political role is increasing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 female participants for this research. Eleven of them are female ministers in parliament and represent the three main political parties in the country. The remaining 10 female participants are also members of the central executive body of the three parties and the National Assembly. Women politicians believe that problems related to gender equality in politics prevent women from entering active politics and rising to leadership positions. Although there was no gender discrimination in Northern Cyprus means that women have gained equal rights with men in many areas, it was concluded that the traditional political culture keeps women out of politics.

BREAKING BARRIERS: WOMEN'S POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA'S LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE

This study delves into the dynamic landscape of women's political participation and representation in the legislatures of Southwest Nigeria. Recognizing the importance of fostering gender inclusivity in democratic processes, the research investigates the barriers that hinder women's active involvement in politics and explores strategies to enhance their empowerment. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, surveys, and data analysis, the study provides insights into the current status of women's political engagement, highlights successful interventions, and proposes recommendations for breaking barriers andadvancing women's political empowerment in the Southwest Nigerian context.

Critically Analysing Participation and Contribution of Women Representatives in the Making of the Constitution of India: Bouquets and Brickbats

The Sustainable Development Goals emphasise need for women’s political participation and leadership. While the sex ratio of India has improved drastically since Independence, however, the political representation of women is yet to be realised. This paper critically analyses an under-analysed issue of great importance to gender representation and participation in the making of the Constitution. Despite enthusiastic participation of women in various spheres of India’s freedom struggle, the political participation was limited owing to the qualifications of the electorate that disenfranchised many women from voting. Ultimately, 15 women members formed part of the 299 member Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution of India. The Constituent Assembly Debates, other reports and literature are referred in this paper which (i) discusses the participation of women, including the women representatives, in the Constitution Making Process (ii) examines the evolution of the Constitution as a result of women’s participation with emphasis on the fundamental rights, and (iii) critically analyses the contribution of women members including concerns that could have been addressed more deliberately. This critical analysis provides a feminist perspective of constitution making and sets out a basis for better understanding of importance of gender representation in the Constitution making, how it structures the Constitution, and contributes to making the Constitution more gender-representative, participative and inclusive.

Insecurity and Support for Female Leadership in Conflict States: Evidence from Afghanistan

Abstract While women's political inclusion is central to international conflict resolution efforts, public attitudes in conflict states towards women's political inclusion remain understudied. We expect insecurity to depress support for female political leadership in conflicts where women's political inclusion is violently contested. Citizens wanting security through force prefer male leaders because of stereotypes privileging men's military prowess. However, citizens wanting security through reconciliation also favour men for fear that female leadership would provoke more violence. We assess these expectations with experimental and observational data from the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In the survey experiment, priming respondents to think about insecurity decreases support for female leadership, but only among women. In observational data, insecurity correlates with more polarized attitudes towards women's political representation in some regions and greater support for female leaders in others. Insecurity's impact on public support for female leadership in conflict states may be highly heterogeneous.

The impact of patriarchal culture on Somali women's participation in politics

AbstractMotivationThe political progress has been slow. The patriarchal clan traditions perpetuate gender discrimination, bestowing absolute priority upon all men for public affairs, while clan women remain voiceless, voteless, and restricted to private (household) affairs.PurposeTo better understand why, despite the minimal formal constraints on women's participation in political life, informal institutions and customs determine the social, economic, and cultural constraints on women such that they are often poorly equipped and/or reluctant to participate in public political activity.Methods and approachBased on secondary literature, the article seeks to explain how the influences of the clan patriarchal system exert a negative impact on the political participation of Somali women. It identifies four structural categories, cultural, social, economic, and political, by which patriarchy has persistently impeded the participation of Somali women in the nation's politics.FindingsAlthough women have contested the patriarchal system in Somalia through their participation in public decision‐making processes in different sectors and their participation in politics, including an increasingly higher level of education and more participation in the labour force, their numbers are still insufficient compared to men.Policy implicationsGiven that patriarchy has been identified throughout the world as one of the main obstacles to women's participation in political and socioeconomic processes, there is a need for official quotas for women's representation in politics to balance severe gender inequalities, achieve full realization of human rights and influence the issues raised and how political policies are shaped. There is also a need for political representation to imprint their competence as decision makers. The article sets out recommendations for tackling the four main structural barriers to achieving this, so that women can fully contribute to the development of Somalia, on a par with men.

The Impact of Electoral Gender Quotas on Women’s Political Participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract Although representing half of the world population, women remain largely excluded from political power and government structures. Various strategies have been introduced to increase women’s political representation, including electoral gender quotas. This paper explores the impact of electoral gender quotas on women’s quantitative participation in politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, analysing quota impact in combination with other related factors, such as the quota design, implementation and broader political context. A diversity of techniques has been used to collect a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, including academic resources collection and analysis, desk research, statistical data analysis and online questionnaire. The paper argues that electoral gender quotas have generally had a positive impact on getting women elected in BiH, though their efficacy depends on their formulation and other aspects of electoral law. Still, quantitative representation of women is not sufficient to facilitate their agency in politics. Social attitudes also continue to affect the electoral success of women once they secure a spot on the candidate list. Therefore, quotas must be implemented within a broader democratic, accountable and gender-sensitive political context to deliver qualitative representation of women in politics. Finally, the paper offers concrete recommendations to promote women’s political participation in BiH.

The theory and practise of legal feminism: examining its impact on the representation of women in Indonesia

This paper examines Indonesian legal feminist theory on public sector women representation. Data is collected and analyzed by observation in this sociological legal research. According to the findings, gender inequality underpins a variety of attitudes and activities that promote equal rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton's feminism was founded on the conflict. The pursuit of rights requires active lobbying, which has sparked social change, mostly through new laws passed by governments. Feminist legal consciousness shapes legislation. However, legal culture appears to affect activists' different methods of communicating their goals. As pre-18th-century nations, Britain and America have faced political turbulence caused by feminists campaigning for women's suffrage. The UK addressed the matter by legislation, while the US changed the constitution. Contrary to Indonesia, where women's political rights were recognized later, equality was achieved by affirmative action laws to increase women's political representation. However, following socioeconomic shift also limited affirmative action implementation, hindering democratic progress.

Influence of Gender Mainstreaming Policy Implementation on Women Political Representation in Baringo County Assembly

Global advances have been made towards the recognition of the principle of women’s political, socio-economic and equity in governance. However, some counties, including Baringo have not fully implemented the gender rule as provided for in the Kenyan 2010 constitution, hence little has changed. This study sought to analyze the influence of gender mainstreaming policy implementation on women political representation in Baringo County Assembly. The study was guided by Equity Feministic Theory by Sommers (1994). The study used cross-sectional survey design and mixed method approach where both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis approaches were utilized. The target population was 2446 respondents comprising of employees, members of the County Assembly and Members of the Public Service Board. The sample size was based on Krejcie and Morgan (1970) where a sample size of 329 respondents was attained. Questionnaires, Interview guides and FGDs were used to collect data. The quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Standard deviation. Qualitative data were thematically classified and arranged before they were reported in narrations and quotations as per the research objectives. The study found out that there was a significant positive correlation between gender mainstreaming policy implementation on women political representation and women governance (r = .581; p = .000). The study recommends that there is need for streamlining of women appointment to senior positions in the county to allow for efficiency and inclusivity in governance.

Level of women involvement in gender mainstreaming policy implementation on decision making in Baringo County

The need to visibly engender women's participation in decision-making became a growing global concern through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Despite the Kenyan 2010 constitutional provisions for gender mainstreaming, little has changed. This study sought to examine the level of women involvement in gender mainstreaming policy implementation on decision making in Baringo County. The study was guided by Equity Feministic Theory by Sommers (1994). The study used cross-sectional survey design and mixed method approach. The target population was 2446 respondents comprising of employees, members of the County Assembly and Members of the Public Service Board. The sample size was based on Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination to arrive atsample size of 329 respondents. Questionnaires, Interview guides and FGDs were used to collect data. Reliability was determined through test-retest approach. The quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Standard deviation. Pearson Correlation and linear regression analysis were employed to determine relationship that exists between the independent and dependent variables. Qualitative data were thematically classified and arranged before they were re ported in narrations and quotations as per the research objectives. The study found out that there was a significant positive correlation between gender mainstreaming policy implementation on women political representation and women governance (r = .581; p = .000). The study recommends that there is need for streamlining of women appointment to senior positions in the county to allow for efficiency and inclusivity in governance

Are women election averse?

Women's under representation in politics has been attributed to their perceived aversion to competition. This study aims to reassess this relationship by conducting an online laboratory experiment in real-time, with a design notably inspired by the influential work of Kanthak and Woon (2015), while also building upon prior research by Niederle and Vesterlund (2007). Our experiment investigates whether women exhibit lower willingness to compete across three different types of elections: 1) lottery election with no campaign; 2) election with votes but no campaign; and 3) election with votes and a campaign. We find no evidence of a gender gap in all three types of elections. Our study underscores the need to consider contextual factors when analyzing women's political participation and representation.

Making Women Count: an Appraisal of Women-centered Policies of Nigeria Political Parties

This article examines the effectiveness of various policies and strategies aimed at promoting women’s participation in politics in Nigeria, implemented by advocacy groups, international organizations, political parties, and the Nigerian government. Despite the legal right of women to engage in politics and governance, cultural beliefs have hindered their active involvement in politics, leading to inadequate representation of women in politics. By liberal feminist theory, the study evaluates women’s responses to these initiatives, the challenges encountered in implementing them, and how political parties can enhance their effectiveness. The article suggests that legislative reform is necessary to enable women to achieve equal status to men in society, which will boost women’s political participation. Furthermore, it argues that Nigeria’s political parties have not done enough to encourage women’s participation in politics. Hence, political parties should establish a welcoming and inclusive environment accommodating women’s needs. To achieve this, political parties should organize party meetings at convenient and accessible times and places for women, eliminate obstacles that impede women’s par-ticipation in politics, develop gender-sensitive training programs to enhance women’s confidence and skills, and establish mentoring programs to support potential women candidates in navigating the political landscape.

Celebrated and Sidelined: How Women’s Roles in the National Resistance Army Shaped Post-Conflict Gender Politics

ABSTRACT How did women’s wartime labour in the National Resistance Army during the Bush War in Uganda influence their post-war political opportunities? Women’s inclusion served a practical purpose of alleviating recruitment and governance challenges. This article argues women’s wartime inclusion had subsequent effects on women’s representation — likely also driven by practicality rather than feminist change. Newly collected data on the political roles of former rebels following the war are examined to understand how women's political representation increased alongside changes in the representation of former rebels.

Гендерные аспекты политической активности в регионах Российской Федерации

The article examines the gender specifics of political activity in one of the regions of the Russian Federation. It details the representation of women in politics, highlights the challenges and obstacles they face with active participation in decision-making processes. The authors analyze statistics and research findings, presenting a comprehensive overview of the current state of gender equality in politics in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). They discuss factors that impede women’s participation in political activities, such as social expectations, gen-der stereotypes, and limited access to resources and support networks. In addition, the article provides valuable information on the gender dynamics of political activity in the region. The experience of women who have been successful in breaking gender barriers and achieving political success is presented. It highlights the strategies and initiatives used by these pioneers to promote gender equality and encourage more women to participate in politics. In general, this article provides valuable information on the gender dynamics of political activity in the region of the Russian Federation. It sheds light on the systemic challenges women face in their political activi-ties and offers recommendations to promote greater gender equality and representation in politics.

Gendered Institutions and Women's Political Representation in Africa

Gendered institutions in this book are described as social structures, norms, and practices that maintain gender inequalities and stereotypes, often to the advantage of men. Many political systems in Africa are patriarchal, with traditional leadership structuresdominated by men. The book highlights the formal and informal political institutions that make it difficult for African women to gain access to political power or to have their voices heard within the African political establishment. Additionally, many of the rules and customs of African political institutions are biased against women and sometimes require candidates to have a certain level of education or financial autonomy that may be more difficult for women to attain. These gendered institutions have contributed to the under-representation of African women in politics. While there has been progress in recent years, women remain significantly underrepresented in African decision-making bodies such as African National Parliaments. This book has eight chapters, with each chapter representing a unique case study of a country in Africa. The eight African countries that the book focuses on are South Africa,Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Botswana.

Anglophone Conflict, New Institutions, and Women's Access to Political Power in Cameroon

Abstract: In several African states, postconflict contexts provide opportunities for the expansion of women's political representation. Little is known, however, about the opportunities for enhancing women's participation in politics during ongoing conflicts. We examine the relationship between conflict and women's political representation in Cameroon, which has experienced conflict in its anglophone regions since 2017. The government has responded to the challenge by introducing several new institutions. Analysis of women's political representation and responses to an online survey demonstrates that while conflict has disrupted gender relations and contributed to the growth of women's movements, the new institutions have not created significant advances for women. The ongoing conflict has provided few opportunities for women activists to embed gender equity commitments in new institutions.