Women in Politics: Education and Participation

Introduction 

Women play a critical role in the growth and development of any community. There are those who are directly involved in taking care of families while others support men in economic and political activities. Over the years, there have been concerns on the extent to which women are involved in political activities. Politics is considered to be a critical element of human life. Furthermore, it shapes the way people live and interact with each other (Chattopadhyay & Duflo, 2011). The political systems and structures in a country can determine how the concept of statehood is perceived and the way people make decisions and settle disputes. Because most people live in groups, it is imperative that the political decisions are made in a way that will lead to balance of resources and power ( Paxton & Hughes, 2020 ). In addition, the decisions made during conflicts should not be seen to favor one group at the expense of the other. It is for this reasons that attempts have been made to study the concept of politics and how it relates to the life of women. In some cases, the focus has been on the way education level among women affect their participation in politics. On one end of the debate are those who believe that education is critical to the participation of women in politics. On the other end are the people who believe that there is no significant link between education and participation of women in politics. None of these positions is easy to accept or refute due to the differences that are witnessed around the world. I believe that education increases chances of women being involved in politics because it increases their communication and debating skills which overall improve their public speaking skills, improves their knowledge in policy making and increases their influence which might increase their chances of being elected into political positions. 

Background 

To understand the idea of politics and women education, it is also imperative to look at what politics is all about. Over the years, researchers have come up with different definitions of what politics is and how it relates to the life of a person. In some cases, scholars consider politics to be a subject that revolves around the study of power and power structures in the society. In other cases, politics relates to the way power structures and government elements are used in solving the conflicts that may exist in a community. In both definitions, it is apparent that the subject of politics touches on the way the affairs of any state are managed (Chattopadhyay & Duflo, 2011). As a result, it is a variable that can cause power struggles in a community and influence the way people relate to each other. Those who are in position of power will tend to exert their influence over their subjects. It is also worth stating that political participation tends to be an issue of life and death. Both women and men strive to find opportunities that will enable them to take part in the political affairs of a country. Therefore, the recognition and study of the importance of political participation is central to the understanding of the operation of social groups and the interactions between men and women. 

For a long time, it has been argued that women have not been able to take part in active politics because of their inferior position to men in the community. The argument is based on the gender stereotypes that exist in many communities (Buch, 2020). While societies of today appreciate the fact that every member of the community needs to be accorded equal chance in life, trends in some regions show that women have been marginalized politically. They are not actively involved in the political affairs of the country and rarely take up the critical roles within the governments. Even when some women are granted the chance to engage in political affairs in a country, then tend to face significant opposition from the male counterparts. The reasons for the opposition may differ from one instance to the other. In some cases, women are opposed because they are perceived to be inferior to men. In other cases, they are denied the chance to take up active political positions out of the belief that they do not have the educational and skill acumen needed to engage in politics. It is against this background that efforts have been made to give women access to educational opportunities. 

In the recent years, there has been ongoing debates as to whether the provision of formal education is one of the factors that will lead to the emancipation and liberation of men. Furthermore, there are debates as to whether education can protect the rights of women and ensure that they are involved in political affairs. Some argue that for the women for achieve meaningful development in the current world, there is a need to go beyond the mere provision of education. Instead, the governments need to work with other stakeholders to create opportunities for the women to be involved in the running and development of their states. Unfortunately, there is a wide variation among nations on the level of education that women require to be able to engage in political activities. In the United States, for example, higher education is considered as the fundamental level that allows people, women, included to take part in political affairs. This contrasts significantly with the less developed nations where there are minimal opportunities for women who intend to acquire formal education. Even with the high level of education, some of these women continue to lag behind in terms of political influence and the economic opportunities that they get. 

How Education Improves Women Participation in Education 

Education is a fundamental factor that influence women participation in politics. In this case, participation in politics refer to the ability of the females to take part in decision making structures in the community. Indeed, it has been asserted in some texts that there are some direct and indirect factors related to education that may influence the way women are involved in decision making and politics. For instance, it may be argued that formal education is a powerful predictor of the likelihood of women getting involved in politics at a given time in their lives (Buch, 2020). An example of a direct effect is that the communication skills and formal knowledge that women get through education helps them engage in public debates (Chattopadhyay & Duflo, 2011). In addition, such women may have an upper hand when addressing the masses that determine the kind of people who get to the positions of power and influence. It is also worth stating that the direct training on issues such as public speaking and political analysis may help women understand the issues that occur in their country. Such women are better placed to understand why certain decisions are made by the ruling class. Furthermore, they may decide to question the decisions that major political leaders in the country make. Another direct effect is that education increases the influence that a woman has and this might increase her chances of being elected in a political position. Since most women are not educated, those who manage to attain a degree are seen to be a cut above the others and act as role models to other women. These women also receive a lot of respect from men. In sum, education increases the influence of women and it becomes easy to trust them with a political office. From an indirect perspective, it may be argued that women get the chance to voluntarily engage in political affairs and learn about current events when they are learned. The other indirect effects include participation in public development, involvement in voter sensitization, and making proposals that may influence the kind of policies that are made in a country. 

Furthermore, educated women are able to engage in political affairs because their skills will make them have an upper hand in specific areas of life. For instance, some have argued that the educated women have a better chance of landing high income jobs. The high-income jobs give them the resources that will enable them to take part in political associations and activities, Moreover, it allows them to contributed to the religious programs and works of charitable organizations that are part and parcel of the political system in the country ( Paxton & Hughes, 2020 ). 

The other major issue is the way education may help in advancing the rights and interest of women at various levels of government. Those who occupy positions of influence usually strive to protect their powers. In the developing nations, some of them cling to power and strive to eliminate those who may want to remove them from authority. In other cases, attempts are made to reduce and minimize engagement of some members of the community in critical political processes. For some women, the unfair practices that prevent them can be addressed through education. The act of political participation is not usually about voting alone. It encompasses other factors such as getting the chance to join political parties, forming movements to advocate for rights and protecting freedom of expression. Such forms of political engagements matter to many women around the world because it touches on their rights. In cases where even those with the required level of education and skills are prevented from engaging in political activities, then women feel that they are being subjected to gender-based injustices. In the end, the women may decide to use their connection, educational skills and abilities to be able to form associations that will help them influence decision making processes and take part in the process of forming policies. Some of these groups subdued when the women develop social capital and trust that they can use as the basis for lobbying form their political rights and personal rights. Others fail because the women may not have the connection and influence needed to shape the political affairs of a country. 

Counter Argument and Rebuttal 

Despite the influence that education has on the ability of women to engage in political affairs, there are instances where the women who have been able to get higher education are also strategically prevented from engaging in political activities. For instance, there are specific nations such as those in the Middle East where women have been considered inferior to their male counterparts. In the Arab world, some women are still able to access educational opportunities like their male counterparts without getting the chance to be involved in political affairs. The trend is attributed to the long-held belief that the women are inferior to men. As a result, they will be confined to specific types of jobs that seem to be reserved for a given gender. For instance, most of the women may end up in the service industry while their male counterparts take up the more lucrative positions. Those in the lucrative positions are able to make political contacts that will allow them to shape their nations. 

In most societies, education remains a critical factor that may determine those who get important opportunities in various facets of life. For instance, educated citizens may be accorded preference when it comes to hiring those who are supposed to take leadership positions. In addition, the people with formal education may be better placed to understand the challenges that the country faces and make proposals. In the extreme cases, the educated work with the rest of the community to form organizations that will advocate for their rights. When the people who are against the involvement of women in leadership see the threat, they may take strategic steps to prevent women from taking part in decision making process. The process may entail creating barriers that hinder women from getting up the leadership ladder. In other cases, the women may be fought and discouraged since they are viewed as a threat by the status quo. When the issue is looked at in this perspective, then it becomes clear that education may be a major hindrance to the participation of women in political activities. However, it is also critical to state that education increases the capacity of women to overcome such hurdles to engage in the politics even as their counterparts are prevented from doing so. 

Conclusion 

The subject of education and participation in politics is an important topic that has been discussed throughout the world. The trend is attributed to the fact that both education and politics are critical to the life and wellbeing of an individual. Those with a certain level of education are able to access quality services, jobs, and other related opportunities. In addition, they may be called upon to engage in political discussions that will shape the policies that are developed and used in a country. Politics, on the other hand, is seen as a practice or a concept that shapes the power structures in a country. Those who engage in politics are able to determine how they are led. Furthermore, they can influence the mechanisms that are used in solving conflicts that occur in a country. It is for this reason that politics remains an important affair in most communities. In some cases, the focus has been on the way education affects the involvement of women in politics. This is a divisive issue that has elicited mixed reactions from different quarters. There are those who maintain that education is the key to almost everything, including engagement in politics. There are those who also argue that education may deny women the chance to take part in politics. However, from the foregoing debate, it is evident that education imparts women with knowledge and vital skills that increase their ability to take part in politics. Some of these advantages include increasing their knowledge in policy making, increasing their public speaking skills, increasing their knowledge in current affairs as well as increasing their influence in the society. All these factors increase the chances of women taking part in politics successfully. As a result, the society should invest in women education in order to improve participation of women in politics which will ensure a form of balance in leadership. 

References 

Buch, N. (2020). Women’s Experience in New Panchayats: The Emerging Leadership of Rural Women. New Delhi: Centre for Women’s Development Studies. 

Chattopadhyay, R., & Duflo, D. (2011). Women as Policy-Makers . New York: Routledge. 

Paxton, P., & Hughes, M. (2020).Women, Politics, and Power. New York: Routledge.