Why are there fewer women in politics?
The word ‘politics’ is yet to acquire a positive meaning.It is actually about the art or science of government or governing. We hear expressions like “office politics”. “ media politics”, “ team politics” and so on, used mostly in a disapproving manner.
Coming to the title question, fewer women in politics is as odd as fewer women in science or in corporate boardrooms. Whatever be the political system- democratic, socialist or totalitarian- the one thing that is common to all is the insignificant presence of women in politics. True, there have been women leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi who dominated the male-dominated politics of their nations. These exceptions prove the rule that politics has been monopolized by men.
There are so many theories about this, each competing for attention and claiming to be the truth.I explore this knotty issue based on a simple understanding of the functioning of societies instead of referring to theories.
Women are too busy to enter politics
Whatever be the culture, women have been the main caregivers and homemakers. They take their care giving and housekeeping responsibilities seriously. Where is the time for politics?
When women also work, their burden increases in their dual role as employee cum homemaker.
Women are indifferent to politics
From my male perspective I have generally found women indifferent to politics. This is not to belittle them as irresponsible. They are perfectly aware of the burning issues that their societies face. It’s only that they are bogged down by their responsibilities that they have little time for politics. Maybe, they don’t consider politics as too important so as to sacrifice their other responsibilities.
Women are more ethical than men
This is a debatable proposition. Politics is per se amoral. It appears that women find the intrigues, and manipulations of politics too tough to handle. This supposition can be tested only when more women enter politics.
Women are not attracted to power
Politics is mainly the pursuit of political power. The exercise of power is intoxicating for men whereas women generally do not consider political power as a worthy goal.
Patriarchy
Whether one likes it or not, whatever be the egalitarian values of liberal democracy, the fact remains that we are living in a patriarchal world. Women face entry barriers in many domains including politics. Maybe, the male politicians feel insecure to share power with women.
How to make more women enter politics?
Affirmative action could help more women enter legislatures and join governments as ministers. Even here, patriarchal society does all it can to sabotage any such move to earmark a certain percentage of seats in legislatures for women. For instance, In India, a proposal to reserve one third of seats in Parliament ans state legislatures for women has been pending for the last one decade because of the obstructionist stand of some male politicians who flaunt their misogyny as a badge of honour.
It is unfair that men make polices even on issues where women have the higher stake. For instance, laws on the reproductive rights of women should ideally be made by women rather by men who do not experience the physical and emotional pains of pregnancy.
Gender equality and gender justice will remain as a mirage unless more and more women enter politics and policy making bodies.
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