‘Introduction’
Democracy is a system of government in which state power is vested in the people or the general population of a state. Democracy as a concept was new to the world and its implementation on the world has been a long process. The democratic process, which aims to promote equality, freedom, and justice, can sometimes harm women, making them victims rather than beneficiaries. Several factors contribute to this conflict, including culture, tradition, gender norms, media, and global perspectives. The main agenda to introduce it to the people was to provide freedom, equal rights and opportunities, and participation. No doubt, Democracy made a great change in people lives. But do you think, freedom and rights were provided to all? Despite, democracy’s ideals, women often faced systemic exclusion, discrimination or marginalization. While democracy strives for equality, women have historically and contemporarily been victims of democratic processes, from political representation to access the rights and freedoms. Only the men from the families were allowed to vote. Women and children were not allowed the basic right of democracy which is to vote. The basic right to vote was a war for women that lasted decades, equal rights and freedom was a steady movement.
History of struggles and reforms for women
Women were assumed to be involve only in household and motherly works, not about political affairs. Women were not allowed some of the critical rights enjoyed by their male counterparts. Slowly, different reform groups started forming mostly by middle class women to fight for their freedom and rights. The 19th Amendment to the American Constitution allowed women the voting right, A right known as ‘women’s suffrage’. The first national convention for women’s votes was held in 1848 in New York, Seneca Falls, Switzerland in 1971, Saudi Arabia in 2015. This movement to demand the vote became a strong propeller for women’s rights and helped in raising public awareness. After this movement, women were granted their right to vote but much later than men in countries like UK, US, India.
Our society has always been patriarchal and still to this date. Early democracies were built on patriarchal foundations, systematically excluding women from political and social decision-making. Patriarchal ideals held that men should supervise women and that economic, sexual, legal, and political power rested with men. Laws and religious practices demanded women’s subordination to men, and governmental and extralegal controls on women’s sexual and familial lives buttressed patriarchal ideals and practices by enforcing their dependence on men. Democratic processes often slowed or blocked efforts for gender equality, such as voting rights, reproductive rights, and equal pay legislation. Even after the laws were made in the favor of women, much later the women were allowed by the bread owner of the family to go and enjoy their basic rights.
Culture and Tradition
In many societies, cultural traditions have historically placed women in secondary roles. These traditions perpetuate the idea that women’s primary responsibility is housework, making it difficult for them to engage in the democratic process. Even in countries that emphasize gender equality, injustices exist that prevent women from participating in politics or exercising their free will. Cultural constraints are so strong that women may feel reluctant to participate in politics, despite having the legal right to do so, preventing them from making an impact.
Strengthening Democracy
Developing countries often face greater economic and social challenges that hinder progress in gender equality. In these communities, women’s rights are frequently seen as secondary, and their participation in the political process is marginalized. The lack of access to education and additional services disenfranchises women, making it harder for them to claim their political and economic rights within the democratic process.
Authoritarian Response
Ironically, women’s progress in democracy can sometimes lead to authoritarian backlash. As women’s empowerment and political participation increase, these changes are often met with resistance from conservative forces who see them as a threat to the traditional order. These forces may use undemocratic methods such as violence, intimidation, or legal restrictions to limit women’s political activism. This interference undermines the principles of democratic participation and equality, turning women into victims of the very mechanisms meant to protect their rights.
Gender Roles
Gender roles have long defined the division of labor between men and women, with men in the public sphere and women in the maternal sphere. This division limits women’s access to political power, as many feel the need to prioritize family over political ambition. Politics is often seen as a male-dominated domain, and leadership is associated with masculine traits such as confidence, control, and aggression. Women who attempt to overcome these obstacles are often met with resistance or labeled as deviating from accepted traditions. This male-centric nature of politics discourages women’s participation in democratic processes.
Women role in politics
After long reforms and struggles, women were granted their basic rights and freedom. Slowly women learned about their rights and started participating in political discussions. Some great leaders came in front to support and guide women to come in front and participate in politics. Women started participating in politics. But there was a huge gender gap in political representation. They were underrepresented in parliaments, political parties and leadership roles. Their views and ideas were not taken seriously and often ignored. The patriarchal society was not ready to take ideas from them. Due to socio- cultural norms women were not taken seriously. There was a huge economic inequality between both the genders. Male were considered superior and Karta of the family. Women in politics face high rates of sexual harassment, intimidation, and violence, discouraging participation. They did not support female to be in politics. Socio-cultural norms, economic inequality, and lack of support for female politicians acted as barriers in democratic processes. While some countries adopted ‘Quota system’. Quota systems aim at ensuring that women constitute at least a “critical minority” of 30 or 40%. Quotas for women entail that women must constitute a certain number or percentage of the members of a body, whether it is a candidate list, a parliamentary assembly, a committee, or a government. These often face backlash, Quotas are seen as giving preference to individuals based on their identity (such as caste, gender, or ethnicity) rather than merit or qualifications. This result in tokenistic representation, In politics, allegations of tokenism may occur when a political party puts forward candidates from under-represented groups, such as women or racial minorities, in races that the party has little or no chance of winning, while making limited or no effort to ensure that such candidates have similar opportunity to win the nomination in races where the party is safe or favored. Women still hold only 25% of parliamentary seats globally.
Biased-ness faced by Women
It’s a male dominated society and its really tough for women to make a valuable space. As a minority numbers of females in the politics, all the rules and regulations are made by the men in favor of themselves. Females are mostly ignored and not prioritized. Women’s experiences are often erased or overlooked within marginalized groups. Laws are made which can benefit one gender. Hence, Policies are often designed by male legislators, leading to laws that prioritize male perspectives and neglect women’s needs. Even when females go into politics and try to make a change for themselves and all those girls who can’t do anything. They face gendered political harassment and online abuse. Not only the society, but the people in politics do Intimidation tactics that discourage women’s political engagement and leadership roles. Discriminating laws for females lead to restrict women fundamental rights and freedom. Basic and really necessary fundamental right of access to abortion, contraception, and sexual health. For many ages, females were not allowed to abort even after the rape. This was both mentally and physically torturing for them. Even today, many of the developing and developed countries has banned abortion like Andorra and Malta in Europe, El Salvador and Honduras in Central America, Senegal and Egypt in Africa, and the Philippines and Laos in Asia. Women in 21st century do not have the basic right on their body. Weather they want to keep a child or not in any circumstances. They used to face domestic violence and rape in their own house. There was no strict laws made to support them. All of this affected women disproportionality. Gender biases in labor laws neglected females to work and make a livelihood for themselves. Females were not allowed to buy a property alone. They need a male candidate with them to own a property. Property rights perpetuate the economic disadvantage of women, even in democracies. The discrimination was not limited to a gender, it was also about race, color, creed and religion. Marginalized women face compounded discrimination in democratic societies. They were discriminated ruthlessely. Women of lower caste were only allowed to work under the richer. The freedom was limited to a certain type. Poorer females had to struggle a lot more. Domestic violence, dowry, assault are some of the reasons females suffered in their own family. Decision-making processes frequently exclude diverse women’s perspectives. Laws were made for the upper class females and no one thought about the minority women. Democratic systems often fail to address the intersectional nature of oppression, leaving minority women at greater risk of victimization.
Authoritarian Response
Ironically, women’s progress in democracy can sometimes lead to authoritarian backlash. As women’s empowerment and political participation increase, these changes are often met with resistance from conservative forces who see them as a threat to the traditional order. These forces may use undemocratic methods such as violence, intimidation, or legal restrictions to limit women’s political activism.This interference undermines the principles of democratic participation and equality, turning women into victims of the very mechanisms meant to protect their rights.
‘Economic and Social Barriers’
Women are not provided an unequal pay. Even working as same as men and doing all the duties equally, females were not paid as same as men. They did not have access to education and employment but also had limited control over resources. Women disproportionately bear caregiving responsibilities, limiting time and energy for political participation. Limited access to education and information: Women’s access to education, media, and information can be restricted, hindering informed participation.
Global perspective
In emerging democracies, women often bear the brunt of instability and are underrepresented in transitional governments. Authoritarian backlash: In some democracies, democratic processes are manipulated to roll back women’s rights, such as in countries experiencing authoritarian trends. Institutions fail to address women’s concerns, perpetuating inequality and disenfranchisement. Women are underrepresented or misrepresented in media, reinforcing stereotypes. Organizations like UN Women, CEDAW played a huge role in women’s democratic participation. Case studies of successful female leadership in democracies like Jacinda Ardern, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Different impacts of democratic systems on women in various parts of the world like Nordic countries vs. Middle East. These global organization and reforms brought a huge difference and development for the women in all over the world.
Recent news
“Union women and child development (WCD) minister Smriti Irani said that menstruation is not a ‘handicap’ and it shouldn’t warrant a specific policy for ‘paid leave’. As a menstruating woman, menstruation and the menstruation cycle is not a handicap, it’s a natural part of women’s life journey. We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation,” Smriti Irani said.
If the minister of our own country who is herself a female has a saying that women suffering from period cramps is not a big deal, what can we expect from the government to change for women? Her belief is that a female suffering from the most natural pain doesn’t require any attention. Nothing can change till our own government takes a step ahead to empower.
Conclusion
It’s been long since the democracy has been introduced, political parties promise every year to do something for empowering females, providing the basic necessities to females. Still there is so much more to do for them. Despite democratic promises of equality, women continue to be disproportionately affected by systemic injustices within these frameworks. There are so many counties till date that doesn’t allow females to study. In a democracy, Government should reach those areas which require more knowledge and insights about women’s rights. Democratic processes need to promote education, awareness, and advocacy among women to address systemic inequalities, Integrating women’s concerns and perspectives into policy-making. Democratic processe
