Beyond Quotas: Examining Patriarchal Barriers to Women's Political Participation in Pakistan

Authors

  • Tariq Rahim Ph.D. in Political Science from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. Author

Keywords:

Pakistani Politics, Women’s Underrepresentation, Patriarchal Barriers, Reserved Seats, Engagement

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the complex interplay between Pakistan’s patriarchal system and women's limited participation in politics. It offers a critical analysis of the cultural barriers, gender biases, and structural constraints that hinder women's active engagement in Pakistani politics.  The study argues that the deeply entrenched patriarchal structure in Pakistan reinforces power imbalances, which in turn restrict women's freedom, mobility, and autonomy.  Women are assigned subordinate roles within the social hierarchy, discouraging their involvement in political processes. Although reserved seats have been established to improve women's representation in national and regional legislatures, women continue to face multiple challenges in political engagement, including limited access to resources, social resistance and male-dominated institutions. Addressing the issue of women's underrepresentation in Pakistani politics necessitates comprehensive efforts that involve challenging patriarchal norms, eliminating institutional barriers, ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities, and enacting laws and policies that protect and advance women's rights.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2024-06-10

Issue

Section

Articles

Deprecated: json_decode(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($json) of type string is deprecated in /home/u574922478/domains/jps.pu.edu.pk/public_html/plugins/generic/citations/CitationsPlugin.php on line 68

How to Cite

Beyond Quotas: Examining Patriarchal Barriers to Women’s Political Participation in Pakistan. (2024). Journal of Political Studies, 31(1), 67-81. https://jps.pu.edu.pk/6/article/view/1358

Similar Articles

11-20 of 195

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.