Socio-Cultural Challenges to Women’s Political Participation
Keywords:
Women politicians, Challenges, Socio cultural barriers, Pakistan etc.Abstract
Since the beginning of democratic system of government, it is observed
that women’s presence in political decision making is not strong as
compare to men. However, equality in political participation is one of the
permanent concerns for the empowerment of women all over the world.
This study investigates and explores the challenges faced by women
politicians in the political arena. The study has been conducted in Quetta,
the capital city of province Balochistan. Qualitative research methodology
has been used to get an in depth insight of the phenomenon. The data has
been collected from 25 female members of different political parties
through un-structured interview guide using purposive sampling method.
The findings reveal that in Pakistani society various socio-cultural and
political impediments exists which includes patriarchal system, restricted
mobility, domestic responsibilities, which restrict women’s political
participation.
References
Ahmed, K. M. (2o13). Women Political Participation and Decision
Making in Hargeisa, Somaliland (Doctoral Dissertation, Kampala
University).
Asiyanbola, A. (2005). Patriarchy, male dominance, the role and women
empowerment in Nigeria. In Poster presentadoen la XXV
International Population Conference Tours, Francia.
Bari, F. (2005, November). Women’s political participation: Issues and
Challenges. In United Nations Division for the Advancement of
Women Expert Group Meeting: Enhancing Participation of
Women in Development through an Enabling Environment for
Achieving Gender Equality and the Advancement of Women.
Bangkok.
Elliott, K. Z. (2015). Modernizing Patriarchy: The Politics of Women's
Rights in Morocco. University of Texas Press.
Latif, A., Usman, A., Kataria, J. R., & Abdullah, M. (2015). Female
Political Participation in South Asia: a Case Study of
Pakistan. South Asian Studies, 30(2), 201.
Moghadam V.M (2009) Women political and gender Quotas, the
institution for women’s studies in the Arab world, Lebanese
American university al-raida issue 126-127/summer/fall2009
Naz, A., & Ahmad, W. (2012). Socio-cultural impediments to women
political empowerment in Pakhtun society. Academic Research
International, 3(1), 163.
Naz, A., & Chaudhry, H. U. R. (2011). Gender and Development: SocioCultural, Economic, Religious and Political Impediments in
Women’s Empowerment and Gender Development: A Case Study
of Malakand Division KPK Pakistan.
O’Neil, T., & Domingo, P. (2016). Women and Power: Overcoming
Hurdles to Women’s Leadership and Decision-Making. London:
Overseas Development Institute.
Samiuddin, A., 2010. External and Internal Obstructions to Women’s
Political Participation. Conference Paper Presented at Women,
State and Politics in Pakistan. Organized by: Heinrich Boll Stiftung
and ShirkatGah. Women's Resource Centre.
Shaheed, F. (2010). Great Revolts and Small Rebellions: Citizenship and
the Social Dimension of Movement Builing Imagined. Conference
Paper Presented at Women, State and Politics in Pakistan.
Organized by Heinrich Boll Stiftung and ShirkatGah. Women's
Resource Centre.
Shvedova, N. (2005). Obstacles to women’s participation in
parliament. Women in parliament: beyond numbers, 33.
