Women and Political Participation: A Grand Illusion

One of the indicators given importance in assessing the status of women in a nation is the presence of women in the political arena. Percentages are given against total membership in representative councils or politburos or political parties and the higher the percentage the more the marks given to the country for having moved women up the ladder. But which­ever the country, whether developed or underdeveloped, Asian, African or Anglo-­Saxon, Communist, Capitalist or Fascist, small or big, Christian, Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist, tribal or non-tribal, this per­centage is so low that no external factor seems visible and obvious as the critical lever for enhancing women’s political participation.