Women’s political representation

Democratic Politics – II | NCERT | Class 10 Polity | Notes + Quiz (Copy 1)

Women’s well-being and issues affecting them often fail to receive adequate attention in the political and social spheres. 💔
Feminists and women’s movements argue that women’s problems will remain sidelined unless women control power and influence. 🔑
One solution proposed is increasing the number of women in elected offices to ensure that their issues are addressed adequately. 🏛️
Cultural biases and patriarchal structures often overshadow the concerns of women, leading to neglect of issues like domestic violence, healthcare, and education. 🔇
Women’s representation in politics can lead to more comprehensive policies addressing issues such as gender-based violence, equal pay, and healthcare access. 📊
The absence of women in decision-making positions often results in misrepresentation and policies that do not reflect women’s unique needs. 🚺

Women’s representation in the Indian legislature has been historically low, with only 14.36% women elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019. 📉
Their representation in state assemblies is even lower, often less than 5%. 🏢
India ranks among the bottom group of nations in terms of women’s participation in politics, falling behind many developing countries in Africa and Latin America. 🌍
Barriers to entry such as gender stereotypes, lack of political mentorship, and cultural perceptions about women’s roles contribute to the underrepresentation of women. 🛑
Political parties often fail to nominate sufficient women candidates, even though public opinion supports more women in politics. 🗳️
India’s political system is predominantly male-dominated, with patriarchal norms discouraging women’s involvement in leadership roles. 👔

Even when a woman holds the position of Chief Minister or Prime Minister, government cabinets in India remain largely all-male. 👨‍💼
This reflects a broader pattern of gender imbalance in the political decision-making bodies across the country. ⚖️
Government policies and decisions tend to overlook the specific needs and priorities of women due to the lack of female representation in key positions. 💡
Political representation of women in leadership roles is critical for ensuring that gender-sensitive policies are formulated, benefiting not just women but society as a whole. 🌍
Unconscious bias and traditional gender norms often prevent women from being considered for leadership positions, despite their qualifications. 📚
Power dynamics within government structures continue to favor male-dominated networks of influence, limiting opportunities for women to participate in high-level decision-making. 👑

To address this issue, India has implemented reservations for women in local government bodies, including panchayats and municipalities. 🏘️
One-third of the seats in these bodies are now reserved for women, significantly increasing their representation. 👩‍💼
More than 10 lakh elected women representatives are now present in rural and urban local bodies, showing progress at the grassroots level. 🌱
The Panchayati Raj system has been instrumental in empowering rural women, providing them with leadership and decision-making roles. 🏡
Reservation in local bodies has not only boosted women’s visibility but also helped in shaping policies that directly impact women’s daily lives, including healthcare, education, and sanitation. 🚰
However, challenges remain regarding political influence and decision-making power even for women in reserved seats, with many facing patriarchal control from male relatives. 💬

Women’s organizations and activists have been advocating for the reservation of at least one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. 📣
Despite decades of campaigning, this reservation bill remained pending in Parliament for many years. ⏳
In 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) was passed, granting 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly. 📜
The passing of the bill marked a historic moment in India’s political landscape, reflecting increasing recognition of the need for gender equality in national governance. 🇮🇳
The bill is expected to enhance women’s political power, ensuring that issues affecting women are better represented and prioritized at the national level. 📊
However, the implementation of this reservation still faces opposition and concerns about its long-term impact on political dynamics and the representation of marginalized women. ❗

The gender division in politics highlights how social divisions can become important political issues that drive change. ⚡
When gender inequality was raised as a political issue, it led to tangible changes, benefiting disadvantaged groups, especially women. 💪
The progress in women’s political representation shows that such gains would have been hard to achieve if gender inequality had not been brought into the political domain. 🗳️
By turning gender inequality into a political issue, women’s movements have mobilized public opinion, changed political agendas, and ensured that gender-sensitive policies are introduced. 📢
Political empowerment through reservation has provided women with opportunities to voice their concerns, while also fostering a broader social transformation toward gender equality. 🌸
These political gains demonstrate that social issues, when politicized, can become powerful tools for social change, giving voice to disempowered communities. 🌍

Swastika Shiksha