Women in Politics: Participation and Governance

Women all over the world were kept out of the socio-political realm as a marginalized section of the society. They are still isolated from the mainstream and subjected to all types of discriminations. They are exploited economically, politically and socially and are excluded from the governance of the nation. Women at every socio-political level find themselves under-represented in parliament and far removed from decision-making levels. While the political playing-field in each country has its own particular characteristics, one feature remains common to all: it is uneven and not conducive to women’s participation. Women who want to enter politics find that the political, public, cultural and social environment are often unfriendly or even hostile to them. Even a quick glance at the current composition of political decision-makers in any region provides evidence that women still face numerous obstacles in articulating and shaping their own interests. Increasing the level of female representation and participation in decision-making bodies requires well-developed strategies and information on which measures have worked successfully in different countries with different political systems. This book give readers a powerful way to understand political socialsation of women, gender gap in political attitudes, women’s political capabilities and patterns of women’s political participation. It also provides comparative information on how women can enhance democracy and good governance, and representation of women in political life.