Page 227 - Reliance Foundation School Koparkhairane - School Magazine - Zenith

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN POLITICS
A new dimension of women in politics has emerged in recent years, all over
the world. More and more women are now entering into politics.

Conventional politics reflected male concerns and hence, women were
notably absent in politics.

Welfare policies that were constructed reinforced women’s traditional
position as wives and mothers. Women have struggled over issues affecting
them, especially their rights to property and vote in the 19th century and to
abortion, equal pay and nursery provision in the 20th century.

In India, reform movements before and after independence have helped
women gain some power in politics. After independence, they have achieved
an unprecedented political break through with the reservation of seats for
them in panchayats and other public bodies.

It is heartening to note that Indian women were among the earliest to get
their political rights, like the right to vote, without any political movement
like in the United States and many Western countries. They were among

the foremost to take active part in politics, even in pre-independence times.

Some of the eminent Indian women who have made their mark in politics
are Vijaya Laxmi Pandit; the first female president of the United Nations
General Assembly, Indira Gandhi; the first Indian female prime minister,
Pratibha Patil; first female president of India, Sucheta Kriplani, Jayalalitha,
Uma Bharati, Mayawati and Vasundhara Raje.

Becoming Pradhan or a ward member in a Gram Panchayat or any other
civic body, or a member of State Assembly or Parliament augments respect
within the family as well as in the community at large, besides increasing
their self-esteem, confidence and decision-making ability.

In spite of many gains, much remains to be done to improve the status of
women in India. The female work participation rate in India is only 26 per
cent, which is really saddening to see .Moreover, the status of women in a

society cannot be secured by her economic power alone, as is generally
supposed. Culture is an important factor in the empowerment of women. A
micro study reports that female participation in the job market is more
intensive when they come from poor and very poor households.

Women provide a fair and thoughtful process to almost all of the important
decisions taken by our government.

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