Closing The Gap: Enhancing Female Political Participation

Rakhi Mane, Research Associate, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University

ABSTRACT

Women's Reservation Bill, addressing gender disparity in politics by enhancing female representation in parliament, highlighting systemic challenges, and exploring its potential to foster an inclusive, representative democracy. The article critically examines the status of gender equality within India's political landscape, with a particular focus on the recently enacted Women's Reservation Bill. This legislation marks a pivotal moment aimed at enhancing female representation in parliamentary positions. Despite constitutional guarantees and various legislative initiatives promoting gender parity, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in politics. The analysis delves into the persistent disparity in electoral participation and success rates between male and female candidates. It highlights systemic challenges such as entrenched societal norms, limited support networks, and gender biases that hinder full participation of women in political life. Statistical insights are provided to illustrate the gradual but notable increase in female representation in the Lok Sabha across successive terms, underscoring ongoing efforts towards greater gender inclusivity in governance. These data points not only reflect incremental progress but also underscore the magnitude of the gender gap that the Women's Reservation Bill seeks to address. Furthermore, the document discusses the broader implications of the legislation, exploring its potential to reshape political dynamics by fostering a more inclusive and representative democracy. By increasing the visibility and influence of women in decision-making processes, the bill aims to mitigate historical inequalities and empower women as active agents of change in national governance. The research methodology involves secondary data from diverse sources including journals, articles, newspapers, magazines and online platforms.

Keywords: Women Reservation Bill, Gender Equality, Political Representation, Legislative Initiatives, representative democracy.