Democracy can legitimize itself in the true sense of the word and spirit only through equal political representation of women. It is highly ironic for us to brandish “our Gross National Happiness” or “our New-Found Democracy” and continue to exclude women that form the entire section of our population. Besides, it is not only an obligation of our democratic society to enable women to make their own representation in the political space – doing so is also beneficial to the whole country.
Yet today it is most evident in the Bhutanese democratic scenario that our political composition is highly gendered. The unequal participation and under-representation of women is evident in the predominance of men among the local leaders, political parties, parliamentarians, and cabinet ministers.
This essay is based on the belief that it is crucial to draw serious attention to the under-representation of women in politics.
Read more at Kuensel Online, published 24 November 2012.
Democracy can legitimize itself in the true sense of the word and spirit only through equal political representation of women. It is highly ironic for us to brandish “our Gross National Happiness” or “our New-Found Democracy” and continue to exclude women that form the entire section of our population. Besides, it is not only an obligation of our democratic society to enable women to make their own representation in the political space – doing so is also beneficial to the whole country.
Yet today it is most evident in the Bhutanese democratic scenario that our political composition is highly gendered. The unequal participation and under-representation of women is evident in the predominance of men among the local leaders, political parties, parliamentarians, and cabinet ministers.
This essay is based on the belief that it is crucial to draw serious attention to the under-representation of women in politics.
Read more at Kuensel Online, published 24 November 2012.