Syllabus: GS1/Society

Rajeshwari Deshpande’s Study on Women in Indian Elections

The study, Shaping of the Woman Constituency in Indian Elections: Evidence from the NES Data, by Rajeshwari Deshpande explores the political engagement of women in India, highlighting critical aspects of their participation and representation in electoral processes.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Voting Behavior and Agency

Women’s voting patterns are often overlooked, with political parties treating them as a homogeneous group, neglecting the influence of caste, class, and religion.

Despite growing voter turnout among women, their autonomy in decision-making remains limited, with external factors influencing their choices.

2. Women as Beneficiaries of Welfare Programs

Political parties tend to frame women as passive recipients of welfare schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, reinforcing a dependent image rather than recognizing them as active political participants.

3. Voting vs. Political Empowerment

• While women’s voter turnout has increased, their participation in other political activities—such as rallies, campaigns, and policy advocacy—remains limited due to social and structural barriers.
• Gender biases and societal constraints continue to restrict women’s presence in leadership and decision-making roles.

4. Impact of Male Migration on Women’s Voting Patterns

• In regions experiencing large-scale male migration, particularly in socially and economically disadvantaged areas, women’s voter turnout has risen
• This shift suggests greater political engagement among women in the absence of male family members, compelling them to take independent electoral decisions.

5. Regional Disparities in Women’s Voting Behavior

• In states with strong regional parties (e.g., Tamil Nadu and Kerala), women’s political preferences align more with regional movements rather than national gender-based trends.
• This indicates that state-specific political dynamics shape women’s electoral choices beyond gender-centric factors.

Women’s Political Participation in India: A Changing Landscape

• Unlike many nations where the gender gap in political participation began narrowing in the 1990s, India witnessed this shift only in the 2010s.
• 2019 General Elections: Female voter turnout exceeded male turnout, with women comprising 5% of the electorate.
• 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Women’s voting percentage stood at 8%, slightly surpassing men’s turnout of 65.6%.
• Increasing political awareness, particularly among rural women, has led to greater participation in local governance and village-level decision-making.

Global Commitments and Policy Framework

1. Women’s Political Participation and the SDGs

• Achieving gender equality in political leadership is essential for fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality) specifically calls for enhanced women’s empowerment and leadership roles in decision-making at all levels.
• The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action sets a target for balanced political participation and power-sharing between men and women.

Key Factors Influencing Women’s Political Participation

1. Socio-Cultural Norms

• Traditional gender roles and societal expectations limit women’s access to the public and political spheres.

2. Education and Literacy

• Higher levels of education and literacy contribute to greater political awareness and participation among women.

3. Economic Independence

• Women’s financial autonomy enhances their political agency, enabling them to engage in decision-making processes with greater confidence.

4. Caste, Class, and Religious Identities

• Women’s political choices are shaped by their caste, class, and religious affiliations, influencing their party preferences and voting behavior.

5. Political Party Strategies

• The level of outreach and engagement by political parties, especially through women-centric policies and welfare schemes, directly impacts their participation.

6. Role of Social Movements

• Women’s involvement in social activism and grassroots movements serves as a stepping stone to formal political engagement.

7. Regional and State-Specific Political Contexts

• The strength of local parties, along with state-specific issues, shapes women’s political behavior in different regions.

Conclusion: Moving Towards Inclusive Governance

• Over the past two decades, the decentralization of governance has amplified the need to measure women’s participation in decision-making at all levels.
• Gender budgeting initiatives have been formulated to ensure inclusive economic and political empowerment for women.
• As data-driven policy interventions improve, better gender-responsive budgeting can contribute to fostering a more gender-equal society, ensuring women’s equal representation in governance and leadership roles.