Objective Level
The week 8 session on gender and development politics offers insight into the reasons why increased women representation in politics does not imply that the gender issues affecting women are addressed. The session demonstrates that while democracy is a valued ideology since it enhances the quality of representation, it can only achieve the above objective by going beyond the election of minorities and women to the legislature (Norris, 2006). Further, greater representation of women in politics does not always imply the promotion of women’s interests. Increased representation of women in legislative arm in governments around the world is an indication of increased democratic space for women and offers society an opportunity to address the underlying issues that affect women in society.
The session also illustrates that not all democracies enhance women representation while increased representation in autocratic states like Rwanda shows that it is not only in democracies that women representation is possible (Kabeer, 2015). Adoption of strategies like quotas does not always mean that women are represented and their issues addressed adequately. On the contrary, increased representation is a perception and a symbolic gesture that inspires others to focus on women’s interests (Davies, 2016). However, it can also be used to undermine a society’s ability to address gender issues like gender based violence, female genital mutilation, and inheritance rights. I feel that the issues raised during the session are critical since increased representation of women in politics is does not imply that women’s issues have been solved, especially economic inequalities and poverty among women.
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Interpretive Level
The session is relevant to my existing knowledge since it illustrates that contrary to the perception created because of increased women representation in politics, women issues have not been addressed. Furthermore, Western countries have lower representation of women in politics compared to developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia (Bauer & Burnet, 2013). I would apply this knowledge by assessing the practical impact of enhanced women representation in politics; both in developed and developing countries. I would carry out more research on the impact of increased women representation in politics with the aim of assessing the overall benefits to women in a highly male-dominated society.
References
Bauer, G & Burnet, J.E. (2013) Gender Quotas, Democracy and Women’s Representation in
Africa: Some Insights from Democratic Botswana and Autocratic Rwanda. Anthropology Faculty Publication . Paper 2.
Davies, M. (2016) Women and Development, Not Gender and Politics: Explaining ASEAN’s
Failure to Engage with Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs , vol.38, no.1, pp.106-127.
Kabeer, N. (2015) WOMEN/MGDs: Tracking the gender politics of the Millennium
Development Goals: struggles for interpretive power in the international development agenda. Third World Quarterly , vol.36, No.2, pp.377-395.
Norris, P (2006) The Impact of Electoral Reforms on Women’s Representation. Acta
Politica , vol.41, pp.197-213.
