How do Women face challenges in Politics
Women’s position in electoral politics and governance stays far below representative levels, and policymaking and governance has long been the fiefdom of men, with few women managing to get past a rigid glass ceiling to enter Parliament.
The entry of women into politics has historically been met with dogged opposition across the world right from the earliest suffragettes in england who data-faced police brutality and sexual assault for daring to demand the right to vote, to modern elections where female candidates are attacked overtly and covertly on gender issues. While there have been many significant victories for women’s participation in politics in the intervening years, they are still met with scepticism, ridicule and objectification when stepping into the political fray. These are manifestations of an insecure patriarchy, jolted by the notion of women taking their place as leaders and decision-makers, representing their issues and interests instead of depending on men in power to do so.
Certain laws and policies, however, have given a boost to the representation of women in indian politics. On 24 april 1993, the Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act 1992 was passed, adding Part IX to the Constitution, giving constitutional recognition to panchayati raj Institutions (PRIs). A new Article 243 D reserved a third of all PRI seats and the same proportion of offices of Chairperson for women, ushering in an era of female political representation across India’s villages.