THE DOVER CHRONICLE VOL 2

Anika Upadhya
THE DOVER CHRONICLE - OCTOBER 2023 VOL. 2
THE GROWTH IN WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN
POLITICS
Where Women Have Excelled in Politics
Background Of Women in Politics
It is crucial to reflect upon the roots of
women's advancement which stems from
the women’s suffrage movement that
occurred from 1851-1920 granting women
the right to vote. Victoria Wodhull, one of
the leaders of this movement, foundan
incongruity in the 14th and 15th
amendments of the US constitution which
was that these amendments were applicable
to all citizens. As she gained more
popularity, she announced her candidacy in
1872 for elections. In her campaign, she
highlighted the underrepresentation of
women in politics and in the parliament.
By the 20th century, many European
countries and the US allowed women to
vote and stand for candidacy. The first time
a woman was elected for presidency was in
1980. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir became the
first woman president of Iceland and held
that position for 16 years.
However, women participating in politics
does come with its fair share of obstacles.
Societal normative influences and gender
stereotypes heavily hinder the paths of
multiple women politicians. Furthermore,
some voting systems might not be designed
to accommodate women’s participation in
politics due to the dominance inflicted by
men through violence or intimidation.
Additionally, it is important to consider
that women have to care for their family
due to preexisting societal roles. This can
be a constraint for their work as they have
to manage multiple tasks at a particular
time.
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Even when presented with such
hinderances, women in politics have
ascended the political ladder garnering
respect from fellow politicians. The women
in Rwanda have effectively done this as
Rwanda was the top country for the
inclusion of women in politics. This is seen
in the 2013 Rwandan Parliamentary
election was a record-breaking one, as 64%
of the seats were being accounted for by
women. The reason for that record? A
period of reconciliation after the 1994
genocide which aimed of integrating
women in politics. The first step they took
was the establishment of an amendment in
the 2003 Rwandan constitution which
established a 30 percent quota for women
inclusion. Furthermore, the Rwandan
government provided education to their
citizens, both men and women, about
political involvement and the political
system. These measures have improved
Rwanda's political integration system
substantially creating a conducive
environment for the advancement of
women.
On the other hand, Thailand has an
abysmal rate of women in parliament,
accounting to only 4.6% overall. In the
recent elections, there was an increase in
women being elected. 96 women were
elected from the coalition party formed
Move Forward and the Pheu Thai party.
This is a result of the measures being
undertaken to improve the participation of
women in politics, such as utilising social
media to deconstruct gender bias and
stereotypes. Furthermore, they have also
focused on creating a safer space for
women outside of politics so that women
can discuss their ideas and as well as the
ability to recognise their self-determination
as members of society. Finally, Thailand
has also introduced educational programs
and training for women to advocate for
their ideas and creations in the political
system. Even though Thailand has a low
rate of female politicians. it has recently
been improving through the
implementation of new policies.