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Shifting Focus: From the Road to Parliament
to Making Inroads in Parliament
We need to look beyond the often asked question of how to increase the numbers of women in parliament, and move towards presenting examples and experiences of how women can impact on the political process while working through a parliamentary structure.
Many significant studies and analyses of women in parliament have been compiled over the last few years. A leading international organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) 1, has played an important role in compiling such material from all over the world in an accessible format. Researchers have also studied this area from a variety of angles. Thus far, most of the work has focused on an extremely important dimension: that of studying and assessing the ways and means by which women can enter parliament. The emphasis has been directed towards equality in opportunity to achieve parliamentary power and the obstacles and hindrances faced in this process.
This handbook attempts to build on the existing material and then take it one step further. In this regard, it seeks to focus on two issues: first, to highlight the ways and means by which women can be effective in parliament; and second, to identify the specific needs of women parliamentarians. What can women from different national, cultural, political, economic and social backgrounds do to utilize the power of the parliament to actually effect the changes they desire within their societies? When we talk about "change" and "impact" very often the reference is limited to change within "women's issues" (e.g., childcare or other issues which affect women in their roles as mothers and wives). This is not the case for this study. In this handbook we look at change in the broader context of policy and legislation relating to a wide variety of social, political and economic issues.
The Need for More Research
The ways and means by which women can maximize their impact on the political process at large, and on parliamentary procedures in particular, and their actual achievements in this regard, remains an area of major importance that has been little researched. Most of the material that is available on this issue is presented within a largely academic and theoretical framework, which makes it less accessible for practical reference and use.
The lack of information and analysis on the issue of maximizing political impact, coupled with a global trend of rising conservatism vis-à-vis women's involvement in public life 2, have lead to a certain scepticism on the part of some, concerning women's contribution to politics in general. This scepticism can sometimes be seen among intellectuals, politicians, and the average layman or woman. The question "So what have women actually done that is so different from what men do?", is not uncommon. Articulating this scepticism in Pakistan, Dr. Farzana Bahari, says:
"… it can be said that women’s presence in formal politics will not bring a qualitative change by putting social issues on the national agenda. It can be argued that women, because of their gender alone, will not place gender issues on the national agenda … Women in the upper echelons of politics are more likely to become an elite group among women and develop their own vested interests."
in “Right of Women’s Seats”, The News, 15 May, 1997
It is highly significant that this conservative trend emerges at the same time that women in some parts of the world have made great strides in all spheres. This manifestation of doubt is nevertheless beneficial since it stimulates an interest in addressing a very important dimension which has not been emphasized: namely, how to ensure that the attention to equality in decision-making goes beyond formal representation in particular spheres, in this case parliament, and focuses on actual impact on the political process.
Looking Beyond Numbers
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It is now essential to look beyond the question of numbers to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of women politicians.
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Previous efforts related to increasing the numbers of women in politics, particularly in the context of women in some parts of the world not even having the right to vote, were a feature of those particular times and conditions. Though still crucial to contemporary endeavours towards equality and representation, it is now essential to look beyond the question of numbers to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of women politicians. In order to do so, information that may be already in the hands of some women MPs needs to be uncovered and shared by practitioners and researchers. The objective of this handbook is to highlight these insights, means and methods, and provide them in all their variations. Indeed, a great many contexts are presented political, social, economic and cultural, countries in transition, developing democracies, established democracies, and so on. The presentations do not advocate one particular approach over another, but rather cover the range of alternatives and best practices. In this way women and men can be informed about the issues and prepared to take action suited to their particular situation.
In addressing these objectives, the following questions are asked throughout the handbook:
- What are the major obstacles women face when entering parliament, which also impact on their performance in parliament?
- What are the main means of overcoming these obstacles
and how are they carried out in different contexts?
- What are the mechanisms and strategies women can use
to impact on the political process through parliament?
- What is the experience of an international organization
such as the IPU in the field of promoting women's
political participation?
Our analysis focuses on the following four criteria: the qualitative dimension; the possible and the positive; the global and comparative dimension; and synthesizing academic insights with experiential realities.
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This approach, which looks at the entire process of women's involvement in politics, and specifically addresses how they can make a difference, is an essential feature of this handbook.
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While the aspect of impact is integral to this handbook, it is nevertheless important to keep in mind that the problems women face in trying to get into parliament do not disappear when they enter the domains of power. On the contrary, these issues, such as the masculine norms that govern the political game, are a continuous challenge in their battle to enhance their political power. Therefore it is necessary to examine how women make it into parliament before focusing on what they can do to maximize their effectiveness once inside. This approach, which looks at the entire process of women's involvement in politics, and specifically addresses how they can make a difference, is an essential feature of this handbook. Indeed, we hope that this comprehensive look at obstacles, strategies and impact is this handbook's unique contribution to this field.
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