India is a constitutional democracy with a bicameral parliament that consist of an Upper House (Council of States or Rajya Sabha) and a Lower House, while the Lower House is more powerful and thus more important for the purpose of this paper.
It consists of 545 members, who, with the exception of two members who are appointed by the president are elected by popular vote. This paper deals with the situation of women in parliament, i.e. in the Lower House. Therefore the words “parliament” and “Lower House” will be used as synonyms for the purpose of the paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction - Basic Information
2. The Situation of Women in the Indian Parliament
3. Reasons
4. Attempts to increase the Percentage of Women
5. Do Women in Parliament make a Difference and do or should they represent Women in general?
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the political participation of women in the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha). It analyzes the historical trends in female representation, investigates the structural and societal reasons for the low percentage of women in legislative bodies, and evaluates whether increased female presence leads to improved representation of women's interests.
- Historical analysis of female representation in the Indian Lok Sabha from 1996 to 2009.
- Impact of the "First Past the Post" (FPTP) electoral system on female candidacy.
- Influence of party structures and ideology on women's political access.
- Evaluation of legislative efforts and quotas to increase female participation.
- Discussion on the substantive representation of women's interests versus general policy interests.
Excerpt from the Book
Reasons
What are reasons for this comparatively low percentage of women in the Indian parliament, but also for the increase during the past 15 years?
According to Wängnerud (2009), percentages of women in parliament are lower in countries with majority systems than in those with a proportional representation (PR) system, because the latter is not as competitive, while in a majority system “a woman has to be the number one choice for her party in order to take part in the race” (Wängnerud, 2009, p. 54). Since the majority of the members of the Lower House in India are elected directly within a First Past the Post system (FPTP) (Rangarajan & Patidar, 1997), this is a very competitive political environment, especially for women. Furthermore India’s society in general is a rather patriarchal one, making it more difficult for women to get involved in politics in the first place (Rai, 2002, p. 5).
Another reason could be found in the composition of India’s party system. Wängnerud argues that more left-oriented parties, with liberal attitudes regarding social policies tend to have higher percentages of women elected than others (Wängnerud, 2009, p. 55). In the past 15 years the CPM, which fulfils most of these criteria, did not form part of any of the governments. They have been led by either rather centralist parties (the United Front coalition in 1996 and the Congress Party in 2004 and 2009) or, in 1998 and 1999, by the more right-oriented Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1996-2008 and BBC News Website, 2009).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction - Basic Information: Provides an overview of the Indian political system, specifically the structure of the Parliament and the Lower House.
The Situation of Women in the Indian Parliament: Reviews the statistical evolution of women's participation in the Indian parliament over the last 15 years, comparing it to international averages.
Reasons: Explores factors such as the electoral system, societal patriarchy, and political party composition that influence female representation.
Attempts to increase the Percentage of Women: Discusses legislative efforts, specifically the stalled bill to reserve 33% of parliamentary seats for women.
Do Women in Parliament make a Difference and do or should they represent Women in general?: Critically analyzes whether female MPs actually represent women's interests or focus on broader political agendas like the economy.
Keywords
India, Lok Sabha, Women in Parliament, Electoral System, First Past the Post, Gender Representation, Political Participation, Indian Politics, Women's Movements, Political Parties, Quotas, Social Policy, Patriarchy, Parliamentary Elections, Female MPs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The paper examines the current status, barriers, and challenges regarding the representation of women in the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha) over the last 15 years.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The text focuses on electoral systems, party politics, legislative gender quotas, and the relationship between female MPs and the representation of women's specific interests.
What is the central research question?
The research explores why the percentage of women in the Indian parliament remains comparatively low, despite some progress, and assesses if more women in power necessarily translate into better representation for women in society.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The paper employs a qualitative analysis of political data and existing academic literature, including case studies and comparative statistics from the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the competitive nature of the "First Past the Post" system, the influence of left-leaning party policies, and the political struggles to implement a 33% gender quota.
How would you summarize the work using keywords?
The work is characterized by terms like: India, gender representation, parliamentary politics, electoral reform, and substantive representation.
Why is the "First Past the Post" system mentioned as a hurdle?
It is identified as a highly competitive environment where women must be the primary choice for their party to stand a chance, which often disadvantages them in a patriarchal social structure.
Does the author believe more female MPs automatically improve women's lives?
No, the author argues that increased numbers do not automatically lead to better conditions for women, as female MPs often prioritize broader national topics like economy and foreign trade over gender-specific issues.
What role do political parties play in this context?
Parties are crucial as they act as gatekeepers; left-oriented parties, in particular, are noted for having stronger ties to women's organizations and more liberal social policies.
- Citar trabajo
- Inga Nehlsen (Autor), 2011, Women in Parliament in India. Current Situation and Perspectives, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/303447
