Women in Political Leadership

Syllabus: GS2/Polity/Social Justice

Context

Recent data released during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) highlights the persistent under-representation of women in political leadership worldwide.

It shows women hold just 22.4% of cabinet posts and 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide.
Only 28 countries are currently led by a woman, while 101 countries have never had a female head of state or government.
As of January 2026, 54 women serve as parliamentary speakers, representing 19.9% of all speakers, marking the first decline in 21 years.
Women are highly concentrated in social policy ministries:
- 90% of gender-equality ministries.
- 73% of family and children’s affairs ministries.
Men dominate core power ministries such as Defence, Home affairs, Justice and Economic affairs.

The percentage of women MPs in the Lok Sabha had been very low between 5% and 10% till 2004.
It rose marginally to 12% in 2014 and currently stands at 14% in the 18th Lok Sabha.
The representation in State Legislative Assemblies is even poorer with the national average being around 9%.
As of 2024, India ranked 143 in the list of countries in the ‘Monthly ranking of women in national parliaments’ published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global organisation for national parliaments.

The Constitution 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts, mandated the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and offices of the chairperson at all levels of Panchayati Raj institutions, and in urban local bodies respectively.
- Out of the total 1/3rd seats reserved for women, 33% had to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- One-third of the seats of office-bearers and chairpersons at all levels had to be reserved for women as well.
106th Constitutional Amendment: It reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs.

The current Lok Sabha has the highest-ever percentage of women MPs, at 14 percent, which is lower than the global average of 24 percent.
There is the necessity of affirmative action to improve the condition of women. Some recent studies on panchayats have shown the positive effect of reservation on empowerment of women and on allocation of resources.
The World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, has four dimensions – Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment.
There is also an argument that having a diverse group of people in powerful positions helps institutions view things from a variety of perspectives.

Gender Bias: Despite progress, many women encounter stereotypes that question their competence and leadership abilities.
Work-Life Balance: Balancing professional responsibilities with traditional family roles can be particularly demanding, often leading to burnout.
Harassment and Discrimination: Workplace harassment remains a significant issue, creating hostile environments that discourage women from asserting themselves.
Cultural Expectations: Societal norms impose additional pressures on women, such as expectations to conform to traditional roles, which conflict with career ambitions.
Networking Barriers: Political networks remain male-dominated, limiting opportunities for women.

Diverse Perspectives: Women bring unique experiences and viewpoints that contribute to more comprehensive decision-making, leading to better solutions and innovation.
Role Models: Increased visibility of women in leadership roles inspires younger generations and helps challenge stereotypes about gender roles.
Equity and Justice: Fair representation promotes gender equality, ensuring that women’s voices and needs are considered in policymaking and organizational decisions.
Balanced Policies: Women’s involvement in governance can lead to policies that address issues specifically affecting women and families.
Economic Growth: Empowering women and ensuring their representation can significantly contribute to economic development, as it expands the talent pool and encourages inclusive growth.
Cultural Change: Increasing women’s representation can challenge societal norms and promote a culture of equality, benefiting society as a whole.

It is a perennial issue to promote higher representation for women who constitute half the population in all countries.
Women’s representation is essential for creating equitable, just, and progressive societies.

Source: DTE

Previous article News In Short 12-03-2026

Next article Atmanirbharta and Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Big-Power Rivalry