Status of Women in the Legislature

Legislative representation is vital for political empowerment since it allows for participation in the legislative process. Legislatures are critical in initiating debates and conversations about many areas of governance, as well as demanding accountability from the government. Women’s representation in national parliament is an essential indicator of gender equality in parliamentary politics. With 662.9 million women, India is both the most populous and one of the most resilient parliamentary democracies in the world.

India is at the bottom of the world in terms of female representation in legislative bodies. Women typically had less than 10% representation in Lok Sabha and 5% in State Assemblies. This failing performance stems from women’s limited power in politics and societal norms. We can expect positive results in the near future as women’s engagement in election voting increases.

Local government bodies, on the other hand, have a better situation. As one-third of seats in local government bodies (Panchayats and municipalities) are reserved for women, there are over 10 lakh elected women members in rural and urban local bodies. 

Status of Women In the Legislature

Status Of Women In The Legislature

In New Zealand, Women’s representation in parliament has surpassed 50%. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, New Zealand is one of half a dozen countries worldwide that may claim to have at least 50% female representation in their legislature by 2022.  New Zealand became the first country to allow women the right to vote in 1893. Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Rwanda, and the United Arab Emirates are among the other countries. Women account for approximately 26% of lawmakers worldwide

Women In Highest Positions Of State

As of 1 January 2023, 11.3% of countries (17 out of 151 countries, monarchy-based systems left out) have women heads of state, and 9.8% have women heads of government (19 out of 193). This is an increase from a decade ago, when the figures were 5.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Europe continues to have the highest number of countries led by women (16) of any region.

Cabinet Ministers In Europe and America

Women make up the majority of Cabinet Ministers in Europe and America. As of January 1, 2023, women represent 22.8% of Cabinet Ministers. The regions with the highest proportion of women in cabinets are Europe and North America (31.6%), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (30.1%).

Women are substantially under-represented in most other regions, with figures as low as 10.1% in Central and Southern Asia and 8.1% in the Pacific Islands (Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand).

Only thirteen countries, which are predominantly in Europe, have gender-equal cabinet composition, with 50% or more of cabinet members serving as ministers. Women Cabinet Ministers by Country

More Women At The Top Levels Of Parliamentary Leadership

According to the new figures, the proportion of female Speakers of Parliament has climbed to 22.7% from 20.9% in 2021. The Map comes after the publication of the IPU’s annual Women in Parliament report, which reveals that the percentage of women MPs throughout the world has slightly increased to 26.5% from 25.5% in 2021.

The IPU statistics on women in parliament also indicate significant global disparities: European Nordic countries score first (45.7% of MPs are women), whereas the Middle East and North Africa region ranks last (17.7% of MPs are women).

During the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the largest UN assembly on gender equality, the new IPU-UN Women Map of Women in Politics was presented. The major theme for this year is “innovation and technological change, as well as education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

As Per The Indian Scenario 

1. According to the Election Commission of India : 

Women represent 14.44% of the Lok Sabha’s total members, according to data compiled by the IPU, of which India is a member.

1. Women represent 10.5% of Parliament members as of October 2021.

2. The scenario for women Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) throughout all state assemblies in India is considerably worse, with a nationwide average of 9%.

3. Women’s representation in the Lok Sabha has not even increased by 10% in the last 75 years of independence.  

2. In terms of electoral representation, India decreased from 117 after the 2014 election to 143 as of January 2020 in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s global ranking of women’s parliamentary presence. 

1. India is currently behind Pakistan (106), Bangladesh (98), and Nepal (43) while ahead of  Sri Lanka (182) .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. What is the position of women in the Indian legislature?

Answer – In the Indian parliament, there are no seats reserved for either male or female candidates. There are now 24 women in the Rajya Sabha and 78 overall in the Lok Sabha.

Q 2. How can the representation of women in politics be improved?

Answer – The representation of women in politics can be improved through following reasons :

1. A rise in literacy rate.

2. By allocating a number of seats in the State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha for women.

3. To establish an enforceable legal requirement that elected bodies include a representative number of women.

4. Political parties should include enough women in their parties.

Q 3. Which state legislature has the most women legislators?

Answer – In 2019 Nevada became the first state to have a majority of state legislative seats held by women (32 of 63, or 50.8%).

Q 4. What is the position of women?

Answer – Gender equality is a value incorporated in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution not only guarantees women’s equality, but also empowers the state to enact affirmative discriminatory measures in their favor in order to reduce their cumulative socioeconomic and political disadvantages.