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Women in Politics

Last updated on September 22, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

Achieving gender parity in politics is still a long way off, as data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making globally.

According to UN Women, as of September 2022, there were 30 women serving as elected heads of state and/or of government in 28 countries (out of a total of 193 UN member states).

Table of Contents

Women’s Representation in Parliament

Despite a large increase in the number of women participating in elections, data on women’s representation in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha indicate that the proportion of women representatives has remained low in comparison to their male counterparts.

The percentage of Women elected to Lok Sabha stood at 14.94% and in Rajya Sabha at 14.05%.

Also read:  Women’s Reservation Bill

Women Representatives in Politics

Due to patriarchal social norms and beliefs, women have historically been marginalized and exploited in India. Social reform movements that started in the 19th century were successful in promoting the welfare and empowerment of women.

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After India gained independence, its Constitution established equal rights for men and women in all political, social, and economic spheres.

Constitutional Status

• The fundamental rights of men and women are guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.
• The Directive Principles of State Policy ensure economic empowerment by mandating maternity leave, humane working conditions, and equal pay for equal work performed by men and women.
• Political equality and the right to vote are guaranteed by Articles 325 and 326 of the Constitution.
• In 1992, the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution mandated that one-third of the seats in municipal and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) be set aside for women. The goal of the amendment was to increase women’s participation in grass-root decision-making.
• India has also made a lot of measures to empower women in other areas, such as marriage and employment. For instance, the Supreme Court has granted daughters the same status as a coparcener in Hindu families, providing them with access to the inheritance.

Women’s Participation in Local Politics

PRIs in rural areas and municipalities or municipal corporations in cities and towns make up India’s third tier of local government.

In 1992, the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were introduced to “provide new opportunities for local level planning, effective execution, and monitoring of various social and economic development programs in the country.”

One of the most significant and transformative features of these amendments was the requirement that one-third of the seats up for election in local bodies be reserved for women.

Studies have shown that the policy led to a phenomenal rise in the political participation of women at the local level. Since then, 20 of India’s 28 states have raised the reservation to 50 percent.

Challenges in Women’s Representation

Social stereotypes, a male-dominated political party structure, family obligations, a lack of resources, and different institutional barriers all prevent women from running in and winning state or parliamentary elections. Details of such challenges faced by women are:

Inaccessibility of Institutions

The patriarchal mindsets that plague India’s male-dominated party structures make it difficult for female politicians to win party nominations to stand in parliamentary elections. Election results reveal that while most political parties promise in their charters to ensure enough representation for women, in practice far too few women candidates receive party tickets.

Challenging Environment

Women politicians have been constantly subjected to humiliation, inappropriate comments, abuse, and threats of abuse, making participation and contesting elections extremely challenging.

Political Prejudice

Women candidates receive fewer tickets from political parties because it is still largely believed in the political community that they have a lower chance of winning elections than men do. Even female members of political dynasties are more likely to be assigned “safe” seats those that had been held by a male relative where their success is almost guaranteed.

Non-Congenial Structural Conditions

Election campaigns in India are extremely demanding and time-consuming.  Due to their responsibilities for family and kid care, women politicians frequently struggle to engage completely. In fact, research shows that having a supportive family is essential for women leaders to be able to pursue a full-fledged political career.

Financial Dependency

Financing campaigns are another barrier due to the fact that many women rely on their families for financial support. The cost of contesting parliamentary elections can be very high, and substantial financial resources are needed to mount a serious effort.

Criminalization of Politics

There is also the danger of criminalized politics, in which strength becomes more important than intellect. As a result, women are more inclined to compete for reserved seats, which are known to be less competitive and hence less influenced by money and muscular power.

Capacity Building Programme ‘She is a Changemaker’

The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched a pan-India capacity-building program, “ She is a Changemaker ,” for women representatives at all levels, from gram panchayats to parliament members and political workers, including office bearers of National/State political parties, to enhance the leadership skills of grassroots women political leaders.

The capacity-building program will be carried out in collaboration with regional training institutions with the aim of enhancing the decision-making and communication abilities of female political leaders, including oration, writing, etc.

Political empowerment is fundamentally facilitated by legislative representation, which makes it possible to take part in the making of laws. Legislative bodies are essential for generating discussion and debate about various aspects of governance as well as for holding the government to account. The level of gender equality in parliamentary politics is mostly determined by the proportion of women in the national parliament.  India is the largest and one of the most resilient parliamentary democracies in the world with a female population of 662.9 million.  As the movement for women’s political emancipation gathers momentum, women’s organizations and civil society must continue to help them assert their presence within the larger political and social landscape.

Article Written By: Priti Raj

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What Is the Role of Women in Indian Politics? Growing Stronger…

May 21, 2009 • 10 min read.

While India exults after yet another peacefully concluded election, one question remains: What is the role of women in Indian politics? The answer is both big and small. Typical of India, it contains contradictions. On the one hand, India ranks lower than the UAE in terms of the number of women in Parliament. On the other, India has elected 59 women as Members of Parliament, the highest since Independence. The country should work towards empowering women economically -- through microfinance programs -- and also encourage greater participation of women leaders in panchayats, or village councils, writes author Shoba Narayan in this opinion piece.

• Public Policy

India should work towards empowering women economically — through microfinance programs — and also encourage greater participation of women leaders in panchayats, or village councils, writes author Shoba Narayan in this opinion piece.

The ink-stained polls of the world’s largest democracy have delivered their verdict and India waits with bated breath to learn whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second administration will be different than the first. While India exults after yet another peacefully concluded election, one question remains: What is the role of women in Indian politics? The answer is both big and small. Typical of India, it contains contradictions.

On the one hand, India falls in the lowest quartile with respect to the number of women in parliament (9.1%). Even the UAE, with 22.5%, has more women representatives, according to the UN’s 2008 survey of women in politics. That said, the recently concluded 15 th Lok Sabha elections have delivered a record 59 women as members of Parliament, the highest since independence, raising their parliamentary participation to 10.9%. Seventeen of these women are under 40. And representation of women leaders at the grassroots level in India is nearly 50%, especially since the passing of the 73 rd amendment in 1992, which allotted one-third of all seats to women. The panchayati raj, that bedrock of rural government, has fostered more and more women participants and leaders. (A panchayat is a five-person elected village council.) Some states, like Karnataka, had inducted women into rural politics even before it was mandated by the constitution. Several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and most recently, Uttarkhand, have allotted not just the required 33% of panchayat seats for women but increased it to 50%.

Beating the Odds

The rise of Indian women as panchayat leaders is a spectacular achievement given that India has one of the worst records with respect to the way it treats the female sex. Malnourished, suppressed, uneducated, violated and discriminated against, Indian women have the odds stacked against them. Even birth is a hurdle, thanks to widespread female infanticide in rural areas. But for every Saroja who will be married at 13 because her mother, a devadasi (prostitute) in Chikanahalli Village, Karnataka, cannot afford to pay a dowry, there is a Lakshmi, who is serving her second-term as the panchayat leader of Kadinamala village in Kotagiri district. There is a Kenchamma of Nereleke gram panchayat in rural Karnataka, who survived life threats during her two terms as council leader. An illiterate Dalit, Kenchamma could not read or write. Perhaps as a result of her personal travails, she made sure that she brought education to all the children in her village, including a disabled child.

Talking to these women is a lesson in humility. Instead of the outrage and anger that urban feminists project, these women panchayat leaders speak with clear-minded realism about opportunities and costs. For many women, attending a panchayat meeting means sacrificing a day’s wage. It means assuming leadership for the first time in their lives and then subsuming it at home to serve in-laws and husband. For Kenchamma, it meant leaving her one-year-old son to other caregivers while she learned the ropes of politics.

Ask these women about political reform, and their answers reflect concerns that every women and mother can relate to. They focus on three things: healthcare, education, and the funds to make these two things happen . Kenchamma, a trained midwife, established health camps to improve awareness among the villagers. She also knew from personal experience that, often, it is the mothers who neglect their health the most. Simplistic as it seems, solving health and education is a common thread among panchayat leaders, whether they are men or women. The third concern is figuring out how to save or raise enough money to accomplish their goals.

Most villagers — in India and across the world — either don’t go to banks or don’t have access to them. Instead, they borrow from each other, buy jewelry and save in what Melinda Gates calls, “risky and inefficient ways” in a recent piece she wrote in Newsweek. For most of these villagers, a child’s illness, even something as treatable as malaria, can wipe out several months of savings, sending a family spiraling deeper into debt. The answer, according to the Gates Foundation — no slouch when it comes to solving global problems in an accountable manner — is “bringing safe financial service to the doorsteps of the poor.” As a means to that end, the Foundation has pledged $350 million for microfinance, whose beneficiary is primarily women.

Microfinance and Economic Empowerment

Geeta, 32, would be a typical candidate. An orphan at age three, Geeta was raised by her elder sister. She didn’t go to school and was married to an alcoholic uncle when she was a teenager. Today, she works as a housemaid in Bangalore to feed her family of four: Her husband, her two sons and herself. Geeta’s life goal is to educate her two sons. But she lives in a cycle of debt — borrowing to repay past loans, to make annual school payments for her sons, to cover family events like weddings and every time someone in the family falls sick. Geeta, it so happens, works in my house.

Two years ago, Geeta heard about Janalakshmi , a microfinance company, from some women in her neighborhood. She joined a group of women and borrowed Rs. 30,000 (about $600) with the understanding that they would help each other not default on interest payments and take turns reaping the benefits of the loan. Each group has a leader who guarantees the interest payment to the microfinance institution and in turn, the leader invites women she trusts into the group so that they can borrow larger amounts. For now, Geeta’s microfinance loan is only allowing her to pay back her previous debts, but she dreams of the day when she can borrow enough money for a down payment on a home.

More and more entities are recognizing the power of micro-loans and how they can elevate an entire segment of society. And the route to the underserved is frequently through women, thanks to models based on Grameen Bank and others. Chennai-based Equitas, for instance, only works with women. In March, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) launched Stree Shakti, a platform for training women entrepreneurs at all levels of Indian society. Goldman Sachs’s ambitious “10,000 Women” program aims to train and develop women entrepreneurs across the globe by pairing them with resources in the West. In all these cases, women serve as the lynchpin for programs, whether they are rural Self Help Groups (SHG) or global programs that aspire to foster entrepreneurship.

Microfinance is not the only answer to solving the poor’s problems but it is one good way to help women help themselves. Women self-help groups are burgeoning all across India, and study after study shows that they successfully impact women and bring them out of poverty. In an article that appeared in the December 2007 issue of UNDP’s Poverty in Focus , researchers Ranjula Bali Swain and Fan Yang Wallentin of Uppsala University in Sweden examine the link between microfinance and women’s empowerment using household sample data collected from five states in India in 2000 and 2003. Their results “strongly demonstrate” that there is a clear link between women’s participation in a Self Help Group (SHG) and their empowerment.

The good news, at least in India, is that these microfinance initiatives are reaching bigger swathes of the underserved. The Indian School of Microfinance for Women (ISMW), for instance, goes one step deeper into the problem. Based in Ahmedabad and chaired by social activist and SEWA founder Ela Bhatt, the school recognizes that borrowing money is only one part of the triangle. Among other things, the school teaches women how to deal with the money they borrow through capacity building workshops, networking and providing knowledge resources. Simply put, it takes Goldman Sachs’s global vision for women entrepreneurs and translates it into a deeper regional focus. The school’s website lists ‘hand-holding’ as one of its goals. Participants of micro-credit schemes are taught financial planning and investing techniques that they can use on the ground and in their business.

While microfinance works to eradicate poverty, the next generation of Indian leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, has made social sectors its calling card. The rural development portfolio, which traditionally was one of the less-prized posts, has now vaulted to the top of the pecking order, thanks in large part to the Gandhi family which has aligned itself with the aam admi (poor people) in both its campaigning and future promises. When Manmohan Singh was asked in a recent television interview if he had any regrets about areas that he couldn’t concentrate on in his first term that he would focus on in his second term, he said, “I’d like to work on agriculture, education and rural health.”

Reforming Education

Panchayat women leaders have been especially active in bringing education to their villages even though they are frequently held hostage by caste politics and quotas. Rural education is a quagmire of poor policies that nobody in government seems to have the will to change. The recent Administrative Reforms Commission repeats a long-standing recommendation that the selection of school teachers in rural schools be delegated to each panchayat instead of making it state-wide and therefore subject to caste-based selection. Deploying state-selected teachers to rural schools in areas where they have no caste-based affiliation makes it a losing proposition from the get-go, according to some experts. Detractors contend that delegating teacher-selection to each panchayat will make it subject to bribes and corruption. But as one official in the Administrative Reforms Commission put it, small-scale rural corruption (with some accountability) is better than the large-scale corruption (with no local accountability.)

Panchayat leaders who don’t have a say in the kind of teachers their village-schools attract end up focusing on infrastructure and other issues within their purview. Women panchayat leaders talk about building separate bathrooms for girls, which studies have shown will reduce the number of female drop-outs after puberty. They bring safe drinking water to their students. All these are not just palliatives, but are necessary developments in rural education.

It is easy to be cynical about yet another federal election that promises improvements to local government and to the lot of women. This time may be different, not just because of the number of women in parliament and the panchayats , but also because Rahul Gandhi, a rising star in Congress politics, is tapped to oversee the rural government portfolio. One can only hope that the Gandhi scion will free the portfolio of its state-level stranglehold and pass along more power to the people. Non-partisan economists have long called for decentralized local governance as the only way to speed up the impact of reforms. To that, I would add two other objectives: wider access to micro-loans as an enabler, and genuinely empowering women in local governments to succeed.

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Political Empowerment of Women in India- An Analysis- Explained Pointwise

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With the recent declaration of the Lok Sabha Results, the issue of political empowerment of women in India has again started to garner attention . The number of elected women MPs has fallen in the 2024 Lok Sabha has fallen to 74 from the 78 women MPs elected in 2019 . In Lok Sabha elections 2024, a total of 797 women contested the elections , and 74 of them got elected. The strength of the 74 women MPs constitutes 13.63% of the elected strength of the lower house . This is much lesser than the proposed reservation for 33% of women representatives after the next delimitation exercise.

What has been the status of women representation in India?

a. Representation of Women in Parliament over the Years 1. Women made up just 4.41% of the strength of the Lower House in 1952 . The number increased to more than 6% in the Lok Sabha held a decade later. 2. However, the number dipped to below 4% in 1971 , ironically, with Indira Gandhi , India’s first and only woman Prime Minister , at the helm. 3. There has been a slow, but steady rise in women’s representation (with a few exceptions). The women representation crossed the 10% mark in 2009 and peaked at 14.36% in 2019. 4. Of the 74 women MPs elected in 2024, 43 are first time MPs . Women MPs have an average age of 50 years and are younger as compared to the overall age of the House, which is 56 years. These women MPs are as educated as their male counterparts, with 78% completing under graduation.

b. State Legislative assembly representation The representation of women in State Legislative Assemblies has been low. The highest is in Chhattisgarh ( 14.4% ) followed by West Bengal ( 13.7% ) and Jharkhand ( 12.4% ).

c. Comparison with Global Standards According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ‘ Women in Parliament ’ Report (2021), the global percentage of women in parliament was 26.1% . India ranks lower than 140 other nations in terms of the number of women serving in their national legislatures. Even though the representation of women in Lok Sabha has increased post independence ( ~16% in 17th lok Sabha ), India is behind a number of countries of Africa and South Asia (like Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

Why is there a need for greater political empowerment of Women in India?

1. Accountability and Gender-sensitive Governance- Political empowerment of women facilitates direct engagement in public decision-making and is a means of ensuring better accountability to women . It helps in undertaking reforms that can help make all elected officials more effective at promoting gender equality in public policy and ensuring their implementation.

2. Breaking the Patriarchal mould of Indian Politics-  Indian Politics has been patriarchal with top party positions and positions of power have been occupied by male. Increase in women representation in parliament, dismantles the patriarchal nature of Indian politics.

3. Focus on Gender issues- According to UN Women, higher numbers of women in parliament generally contribute to stronger attention to women’s issues. This ensures appropriate policy response to address gender issues and introduce women-sensitive measures .

4. Gender Equality- Women’s political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy. It helps establish public enquiries on women’s issues and use findings to place issues on government agendas and within legislative programmes .

5. Change of Stereotypes- Enhanced representation helps in cooperation with the women’s movement and the media to change the stereotyped image of women as only ‘ homemakers ’, to change it to ‘ lawmakers ‘.

6. Improvement of Economic Performance and Infrastructure- According to UN University, Women legislators improve the economic performance of their constituencies 1.8 per cent more than male legislatures . Evaluation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana shows the share of incomplete road projects is 22 percentage points lower in female led constituencies.

What are the reasons behind low political representation of women in India?

1. Gender Gaps in Political Ambition- Gender conditioning leads to lack of political ambition in women: (a) Women are less encouraged to run for office/election than men. (b) Women’s tendency to shy away from competition also plays a role since the political selection process is likely perceived as highly competitive. (c) The fear of ‘ big politics ’ and factors such as self-doubt , stereotypes and personal reservations prevent even the most politically gifted women from entering government (d) Women’s willingness to advance in their political careers can also be influenced by family and relational considerations. For ex- In Sweden, female politicians who are promoted to mayor (i.e. the highest office in municipal politics) experience a significant increase in the likelihood of divorcing their partner, whereas this is not the case for men.

2. Patriarchal Society- The patriarchal nature of Indian politics also prevents the increase in women participation in India. (a) Gender Disparities- There are still many obstacles in the way of women in positions of leadership due to gender inequality in areas like as education , access to resources , and the persistence of biased views . (b) Sexual division of labour- Women are responsible for the majority of housework and child care . This creates hindrance for them to enter politics. (c) Cultural and Social Expectations- Cultural and Social Expectations are forced upon women which prevent women from participating in politics.

3. Cost of Contesting Election- Cost of contesting elections is rising with times. Lack of access to resources and assets means that women are much less likely to be able to raise the funds for contesting elections than men.

4. Male politicians as Gate-keepers- Party leaders generally prefer to promote male rather than female candidates . There is a general bias in the thinking regarding winnability of female candidates preventing them from selecting women leaders for election.

5. Growth of criminalisation and corruption- The exodus of women from politics can also be attributed to a lack of political education coupled with the growth in criminalization and corruption .

What measures have been undertaken for political empowerment of Women and increasing their participation?  

Legislative Measures

1. Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam (Women reservation Act) – It has been passed to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies .

2. 73rd and 74th amendment Act- This amendment act provided 33% reservation to women in local bodies . Some states like Bihar have increased the women reservation in the local bodies to 50% .

3. Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women- In 1997 (11th Lok Sabha), the Committee on Empowerment of Women was formed to advance the position of women

4. Gender-Neutral Rules of Lok Sabha- The rules of the Lok Sabha were made completely gender-neutral in 2014 under the leadership of Meira Kumar. Since then, every document has called the head of a Lok Sabha Committee as the Chairperson .

Constitutional Measures

1. Article 14- It has established equality as a fundamental right . It inevitably necessitates equal opportunity, as stated in Article 15.

2. Article 46- It puts on the state the responsibility to safeguard vulnerable groups against social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

3. Article 243D- It ensures participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions by mandating at least 33% reservation for women in total seats and the offices of chairpersons of Panchayats.

4. Article 326- Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage .

International Covenants

Globally, several international commitments have been made, for achieving gender equality and these have emphasized on enhancing women’s representation in political sphere.

1. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)- Upheld women’s right to participate in public life.

2. Beijing Platform for Action (1995), Millennium Development Goals (2000) and Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030)- All these called for removing barriers to equal participation and also took into account increasing women’s representation in parliament to measure progress towards gender equality.

What Should be the Way Forward?

1. Checks on the crimininalisation of politics- We must address the larger issues of electoral reforms such as measures to check criminalisation of politics and influence of black money to achieve the desired results of women reservation.

2. Intra party democracy- Institutionalisation of Intra party democracy will make availabe a  wider pool of women candidates.

3. Nomination to Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils- Every Political Party must nominate 33% women and 67% men for every election to Rajya Sabha and State legislative councils to achieve true women representation.

4. Promotion of women participation at panchayat level through strengthening women self-help groups. This will ensure able women candidates for MP/MLA elections.

5. Strengthening women’s agencies and organizations for building a progressive society with equality of opportunities among all citizens.

6. Promotion of girl’s participation in College/Universities student political parties and political debate to increase their political prowess for future.

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Home » Social Justice » Issues related to Women » Women in Indian political system

Women in Indian political system

India was ranked  149 i n terms of representation of women in executive government and Parliament as per  UN Women in Politics 2019 report . India needs feminization of politics in a huge way to increase women representatives. It would include the involvement of women in the decision-making process, power-sharing, running political parties, holding political offices, and policymaking at all levels of governance of the state.

• India ranks  153 out of 190 nations in the percentage of women in the lower house of world parliaments.
• The Economic Survey 2018 said there are  developing countries like Rwanda which has more than 60 per cent women representatives in Parliament in 2017.
• In India, between 2010 and 2017  women’s share rose 1 percentage point in its  Lower House  (Lok Sabha).
• As on October 2016, out of the  total 4,118 MLAs across the country,  only 9 per cent  were women.
• The highest percentage of women legislators come from Bihar, Haryana and Rajasthan (14%), followed by Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal (13%) and Punjab (12%).
• The factors such as  domestic responsibilities, prevailing cultural attitudes regarding roles of women in society and lack of support from family were among main reasons that prevented them from entering politics.
• Lack of confidence and finance  were the other major deterring factors that prevented women from entering politics.
• Ahead of any election campaign in the country,  sexist and derogatory remarks start doing the rounds against women contestants, in some cases forcing them to withdraw their nomination.
• The introduction of  the Women’s Reservation Bill in 1996 that would reserve 33 percent of seats in Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies for women on a rotational basis, lapsed in 2014 with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
• The constitution allocates total seats to states by population, the resultant women’s representation at 12% is far below the actual population of women. So, on grounds of fairness, this is an anomaly.
• Prejudice : Ironically it exists among both men and women – against genuine equality. It is believed that male legislators have the gumption to fulfill election manifesto more than women.
• About  half  the world’s population feel men make better political leaders as per UNDP Gender Social Norms Index.
• Another major factor is familial support to pursue political career for women. In India, it is most often those women who have a political background that enter into electoral arena.
• Role of Money power in politics makes it harder for women to enter the political forum.
• 24% of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women, and there are only  10  female heads of government out of a possible 193. This shows the dearth of women representation in politics.
• The unhealthy political environment : For instance In this recent MeToo movement, a journalist Priya Ramani accused Union Minister of state of external affairs, MJ Akbar of sexual harassment.
• On the reserved seats, at the local level, political leaders take positions in the name of their wife, and after winning elections, actual power is used by their male counterparts instead of women. (Concept of sarpanch pati raj/pati panchayat phenomenon)
• Women legislators in India raise economic performance in their constituencies by about 1.8 percentage points per year more than male legislators.
• When average growth is 7%, this implies that the growth premium associated with female legislators is about 25%.
• Lower Criminalization of Politics: Male legislators are about three times as likely as female legislators to have criminal charges pending against them when they stand for election. This explains the growth difference mentioned above.
• Policy Making – Better representation of women’s and children’s concerns in policymaking. Eg: Panchayat Raj institutions serve as a good example in this front.
• Lower Corruption : The rate at which women accumulate assets while in office is 10 percentage points lower, per year than among men. These findings line up with experimental evidence that women are more just, risk-averse and less likely to engage in criminal and other risky behaviour than men.
• Eg : The share of incomplete road projects is 22 percentage points lower in female-led constituencies.
• From a feminist viewpoint politics needs to follow a road that moves women out of the traditional social and political marginalization.
• Despite so many favorable points for women, women make up 14% of the Lok Sabha and 11% of the Rajya Sabha.
• In 1994, India ratified the 73rd and the 74th amendments to the Indian Constitution, granting women 1/3 reservation in rural and urban democratic bodies.
• There are 13.72 lakh elected women representatives (EWRs) in PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions) which constitute 44.2 per cent of total elected representatives (ERs) as on December, 2017.
• Women sarpanchs accounted for 43 per cent of total gram panchayats (GPs) across the country, exhibiting active leadership of women in local government.
• There is documented evidence both at the  international level and at the gram panchayat (village ) level to suggest that a greater representation of women in elected office balances the process and prioritizations that elected bodies focus on.
• In terms of  policy styles , for instance, the inclusion of women adds behind the scenes discussion rather than direct confrontation on the floor of the House.
• In terms of  agenda (as measured in Rwanda), a wider range of family issues get tackled.
• Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay ( NBER Working Paper 8615 ) showed that in a randomised trial in West Bengal,  women pradhans (heads of village panchayats) focus on infrastructure that is  relevant to the needs of rural women , suggesting that at least at the local level  outcomes  can be different.
• The role model effect also erases the gender disparity in educational attainment of young girls.
• A study by IndiaSpend reported  women panchayat leaders in Tamil Nadu  invested 48 percent more money than their male counterparts in building roads and improving access.
• Another study by  the United Nations found that  women-led panchayats delivered 62 percent higher drinking water projects  than those led by men.
• India should have an  Election Commission-led effort to push for reservation for women in political parties.
• Reservation for women in political parties – a more viable option.
• Quotas for women in Parliament as envisaged in the  Women’s Reservation Bill .
• Awareness, education and role modelling that encourage women towards politics and wipe out  Gender stereotypes  which perceive women as weak representatives.
• Inclusive economic institutions and growth—both necessary for and dependent on social empowerment—require inclusive political institutions.
• Women’s leadership and communication skills need to be enhanced by increasing female literacy especially in rural areas. They should be empowered in order to break socio-cultural barriers and improve their status in the society.
• India is yet to pass a bill introducing  33% reservation  in Parliament for women. This experiment at the local level (PRI’s and ULB’s) has been very successful.
• Political mentoring  and skill training  can enhance their political knowledge; thereby becoming potential candidates who will steer the nation towards development.

B.R. Ambedkar once said that “ political power is the key to all social progress ”. Ensuring proportional representation to women in parliament is seen by policy makers as a  panacea to the issues surrounding women empowerment . Recognizing the significance of roles of women in decision making process in the society is  critical to strengthen women’s agencies for building a progressive society with equality of opportunities among all citizens . Male politicians must take a lead role in challenging traditions which foster inequality and also unequivocally condemn the misogynistic language that their counterparts use when it comes to women.

SDG goal 5 has a target – ‘’ Ensure women’s full and active participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life’’. It needs to be achieved with the collective efforts of the international community (SDG goal 17- Partnership for the goals). There is no one-size-fits-all solution to ensure gender equality in politics. But there is plenty that can and should be done to ensure that women’s voices are heard.

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Women Representation In Politics: Need, Significance, and Challenges

This editorial is based on the news “ Pakistan parties intensify efforts to form coalition government after split verdict in February 8 elections ” which was published in the Hindu. This article highlights that the only way for increasing women’s political participation is to provide them reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies .

Why Women Representation In Politics Is Needed?

• Role of Political Parties: It is surprising that the political parties were not enthusiastic about giving tickets to more women candidates. 
• Role of Women Voters: The voters, too, did not seem keen on electing women candidates, even after the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed. 

Women Representation In Politics: The Case of Rajasthan

• The Statistics: In the current Rajasthan Assembly , the total number of women MLAs is 20 (nine each from the Congress and the BJP and two independents). 
• This shows that voters seem to prefer male candidates to female candidates. 
• Reason of Reluctance: This low vote outcome to some extent explains why political parties may be reluctant to give tickets to women candidates and why mandatory quota within the party may not be the way forward for increasing women’s representation in politics.
• There were 13 Assembly constituencies where the Congress fielded male candidates against the BJP’s female candidates and at last BJP won 6 seats and Congress won 7.
• Similarly, the BJP fielded male candidates against the female candidates of the Congress in 21 Assembly constituencies. Of these, the male candidates of BJP won in 15 Assembly seats and the female candidates of the Congress won in only 6. 

No Contagion Effect

• In the first-past-the-post system , if one party provides a gender quota, it does not incentivise other parties to follow suit.
• The Congress awarded 40% of tickets to women candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but this did not lead to a higher representation of women. 

Political participation by women is a critical indicator of gender equality and societal progress. From India to the far reaches of the globe, women continue to challenge stereotypes, break barriers, and make their voices heard in the world of politics. Providing a quota for women in Parliament and State Assemblies seems to be the only way to increase their political representation.

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• How Indians View Gender Roles in Families and Society
• 1. Views on women’s place in society

Table of Contents

• 2. Son preference and abortion
• 3. Gender roles in the family
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology

About a quarter of Indians (23%) say there is “a lot of discrimination” against women in their country. And 16% of Indian women reported that they personally had faced discrimination because of their gender in the 12 months before the 2019-2020 survey.

In addition, three-quarters of adults see violence against women as a very big problem in Indian society. To improve women’s safety, about half of Indian adults (51%) say it is more important to teach boys to “respect all women” than to teach girls to “behave appropriately.” But roughly a quarter of Indians (26%) take the opposite position, effectively placing the onus for violence against women on women themselves.

On the whole, however, Indians seem to share an egalitarian vision of women’s place in society. Eight-in-ten people surveyed – including 81% of Hindus and 76% of Muslims – say it is very important for women to have the same rights as men. Indians also broadly accept women as political leaders, with a majority saying that women and men make equally good political leaders (55%) or that women generally make better leaders than men do (14%).

Yet these views exist alongside a preference for traditional economic roles. Indians generally agree that when there are few jobs available, men should have more rights to a job than women (80%), including 56% who completely agree with this statement. Majorities of both men and women share this view, though men are somewhat more inclined to take this position.

Most Indian women do not perceive widespread discrimination against women in India

Roughly a quarter of Indians (23%) say there is “a lot of discrimination” against women in India today. (Respondents were given two options; they could either say there is a lot of discrimination against women, or there is not a lot of discrimination.) Christians are the religious community most likely to perceive widespread discrimination against women in India (30%).

Indian women are only slightly more likely than Indian men to say there is a lot of discrimination against women in the country (24% vs. 22%, respectively). In general, views on gender discrimination do not differ much – if at all – between respondents of different ages or education levels.

While most Indians do not perceive a lot of gender discrimination in their country, Indians are modestly more likely to say there is a lot of discrimination against women than to say the same about discrimination against religious groups or lower castes .

Indians in different regions have very different perceptions of how much discrimination women face. In general, respondents in the South are more likely than those in the Hindi Belt  to feel there is a lot of discrimination against women in India today. For example, in the Southern states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu, more than a third of adults say there is a lot of discrimination against women (44% and 39%, respectively). By contrast, in the Hindi Belt states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, only 6% of respondents say this is the case. As Pew Research Center previously has reported, South Indians also are more likely than Indians in the Hindi Belt to perceive a lot of discrimination against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Northeastern state of Assam stands out, with 52% of respondents reporting widespread gender discrimination. This mirrors the broader pattern of respondents in the Northeast being among the most likely to say there is a lot of discrimination in India against people from various religious groups and from lower castes . But in general, the majority of Indians in most states and union territories say there is not a lot of discrimination against women.

Most Indian women say they have not recently experienced gender discrimination

Fewer than one-in-five Indian women (16%) said they had personally felt discriminated against in the 12 months before the 2019-2020 survey because of their gender. And women were only slightly more likely than men to say they had experienced gender discrimination in the past year (16% vs. 14%, respectively).

Christians – despite being the most likely religious group to say there is a lot of discrimination against women in India – had the lowest rate of women personally reporting discrimination because of their gender (9%).

Across India, women in different age groups and with different levels of education reported experiences with gender discrimination at roughly similar rates. However, women who had faced recent financial difficulties (those who said they had not been able to afford food, housing or medical care for themselves or their families in the last year) were twice as likely as those who had not recently faced such financial difficulties to report that they personally had experienced gender discrimination in the past year (22% vs. 11%).

Survey respondents’ personal experiences with gender discrimination also varied across the country. On the upper bound, women in Jammu and Kashmir and in Assam reported the highest levels of personal gender discrimination in the past year (35% and 32%, respectively), while women from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were among the least likely to say they personally had faced discrimination because of their gender (7% and 6%, respectively).

Indians favor teaching boys respect as a way to improve women’s safety

Amidst India’s ongoing problem with violence against women , the survey asked respondents whether, to improve the safety of women in their community, it is more important to teach boys to respect all women or to teach girls to behave appropriately.

About half of Indians (51%) say it is more important to teach boys to respect all women, while roughly a quarter (26%) say it is more important to teach girls to behave appropriately. Others offer a variety of additional responses, such as that teaching both things is important or that it depends on the situation (13%); that improving law and order or policing is the most important way to protect women’s safety (7%); or that women are already safe (2%). A very small share (2%) did not offer a response to the question.

Women are somewhat more likely than men to say that teaching boys to respect all women is the most important way to improve women’s safety (53% vs. 48%).

Within all of India’s major religious communities, the most common response is “to teach boys to respect all women.” However, while Christians and Sikhs are somewhat less likely than other groups to say this, they are more likely than people in other religious groups to say that both kinds of teaching are important or that the right approach depends on the situation.

While opinion does not vary substantially among Indians of different ages or educational backgrounds, a sizeable gap does emerge around religious commitment. Indians who say religion is very important in their lives are more likely than others to say that teaching boys to respect all women is crucial to improving the safety of women (52% vs. 43%).

Opinions on the best way to improve women’s safety vary considerably across India. For instance, 63% of Rajasthan residents say it is more important to teach boys to respect all women, compared with 40% of people in West Bengal.

In the South, people in neighboring states have differing views. Only about a third of Tamil Nadu residents would prioritize teaching boys to respect all women (34%), compared with over half of Andhra Pradesh locals (56%).

Most Indians say it is very important that women have same rights as men

Most Indian adults (80%) say that, in general, it is very important for women to have the same rights as men, with solid majorities of all major religious groups sharing this view. Buddhists are especially likely to say gender equality is very important (91%), while Muslims and Christians are somewhat less likely than members of India’s other major religious communities to express this sentiment (76% and 70%, respectively).

Nationally, women, younger Indians (ages 18 to 34), and college graduates are slightly more likely than others to say it is very important for women to have the same rights as men.

Overall, Indians with high levels of religious commitment – i.e., those who say religion is very important in their lives – are more likely than other Indians to believe that gender equality is very important (83% vs. 65%). And those with a favorable view of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are modestly more likely than others to endorse equal rights for women (83% vs. 76%).

Broadly, Indians in the South are somewhat less likely than those elsewhere to say it is very important for women to have the same rights as men. For example, while 80% of Indian adults overall think gender equality is very important, smaller shares in Kerala (72%), Telangana (71%) and Andhra Pradesh (66%) take this position. Still, large majorities across Indian states and union territories share this sentiment.

Most Indians believe women to be equally good political leaders as men

India has a long history of women holding political power, from the 1966 election of Indira Gandhi, one of the world’s first woman prime ministers , to other well-known figures, such as Jayalalitha , Mamata Banerjee and Sushma Swaraj .

The survey results reflect this comfort with women in politics. Overall, a small majority of respondents express the opinion that, in general, women and men make equally good political leaders (55%). Some Indians (14%) even say women tend to make better political leaders than men. Only a quarter of Indians say that men generally make better political leaders than women.

Modest differences by gender exist. Men are more likely than women to believe men are superior politicians (29% vs. 21%, respectively), while women are slightly more likely to favor the abilities of women leaders (16% vs. 13%).

Younger Indian adults (ages 18 to 34) and college graduates are somewhat more likely than their elders and those with less formal education to say women and men make equally good political leaders.

Views on gender and political leadership differ substantially across Indian states. In a handful of states, about a third or more of the population says that men generally make better political leaders than women, including a slim majority in Himachal Pradesh (54%).

By contrast, only about one-in-eight adults in the East Indian state of Odisha (12%) say men make better political leaders. In Odisha and several other states, solid majorities say women and men make equally good political leaders.

In a few states – including the three Southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu – roughly one-in-five or more people surveyed say women generally make better political leaders than men.

Most men and women think men should be given hiring preference when there are few jobs

While a majority of Indians express openness to women political leaders and endorse equal rights for women, the vast majority of the population (80%) agrees with the idea that “when there are few jobs, men should have more rights to a job than women,” including 56% who completely agree with that statement. Most Indian women as well as men express total agreement with this statement, though men are somewhat more likely to do so (59% of men vs. 54% of women).

Although the survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic , this question may have become even more relevant because women in India have disproportionately suffered from long-term job losses amidst the pandemic’s economic fallout.

Opinion varies by religious group. Nearly two-thirds of Muslims (64%) completely agree that men should get preference for jobs over women, compared with roughly a third of Christians (34%) who take the same view.

Highly religious Indians are especially likely to fully agree that limited jobs should go to men: Six-in-ten Indians who consider religion very important in their lives say this, compared with about four-in-ten Indians for whom religion is less important (38%).

College graduates are somewhat less inclined than others to completely agree that men should have more rights to a job when employment opportunities are scarce (49% vs. 57%).

People in some Southern states are among the least likely to completely agree that men should have more rights to limited jobs than women. Fewer than half of respondents in Karnataka (45%), Andhra Pradesh (41%), Telangana (41%) and Kerala (28%) hold this view.

At the same time, a majority of residents in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu (60%) fully agree that when there are few jobs, men should be given preference in hiring. This view also is prevalent in most Hindi Belt states, such as Uttar Pradesh (69%), Haryana (67%) and Madhya Pradesh (66%). And in Himachal Pradesh, nine-in-ten respondents express total agreement with this notion.

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Political Participation of Women: A Case Study in India

OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 07, No. 02, pp. 91-108, 2014

18 Pages Posted: 26 May 2014

Anuradha Chadha

Guru Nanak Dev University - Department of Law

Date Written: May 25, 2014

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion,…birth or other status. However, it is the most unfortunate that women have suffered inferior position to men in almost all societies of world. In ancient India, the woman enjoyed equal status with men in all spheres of the life. Women of later periods spanning between the middle and modern ages have been denied their rightful place of honour and a vortex of innumerable caste and communal combinations, has paid scant regards for the education and welfare of women culminating in child marriage, sati, ban on widow marriage, and divorce, to name a few atrocities on them. The ability to challenge the subordination was seriously affected by the omission of women from positions of power in all its manifestations. The leaders of both pre and post independent India paid nothing but lip service to the upliftment of women in various walks of life including rightful representation in the legislatures, both at the centre and in the states, with the result that even now women do not enjoy place of pride in the power centres of legislation, administration and party leadership. At the international level also, on women’s issues, women’s political empowerment was at the center stage of all the discourses, but still, in any political system, participation of women is very low as compared to men right from the developed to developing countries. No doubt, the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India guarantees adult franchise and provides full opportunities and framework for women to participate actively in politics. But it is pity that the decades following independence witnessed a decline in the participation of women in the politics. The state and society seem to be lagging behind in offering them political reservations that were long overdue. Of late, the Women's Reservation Bill has been a political ball for nearly a decade and half. It has always triggered heated debates within Parliament and outside. The proposed legislation to reserve 1/3rd seats in the Parliament and State Legislatures for women was drafted first by the H D Deve Gowda-led United Front government. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996. Although it has been introduced in Parliament several times, the Bill could not be passed because of lack of political consensus. Though our Constitution and various other legislative enactments and different Commissions established for women from time to time have made a number of efforts for the achievement of the objective of gender equality, yet in actual practice, the planned efforts to emancipate women educationally, economically and particularly politically did not yield the desired results over the decades after independence. This paper deals with the women emancipation through its political participation. Realizing women’s subjugation and subordination and affirmative discrimination against women in general there has emerged the need of their empowerment – both political and economic. The objective of this paper is to support and encourage the enactment of the Women's Political Reservation Bill. Additionally its aim is to stimulate the initiatives for stopping corruption, criminalization and communalization of politics, for enforcing stringent ceiling of funding expenses incurred for election campaigns and creating awareness in the society in order to inculcate the values of gender equality and gender justice. In order to achieve these objectives, the present work is based heavily on United Nations reports, International norms and conventions, Indian Constitutional provisions and other statutory enactments providing favourable laws rendering special privileges for the benefits of women, Government of India reports, NGO reports and important works by modern jurists who contributed a lot towards the evolution and growth of feminist jurisprudence and studies.

Keywords: Feminist Jurisprudence; Gender equality; Political Participation; Reservation; Women Empowerment.

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Anuradha Chadha (Contact Author)

Guru nanak dev university - department of law ( email ).

GT ROAD Amritsar GT, ROAD AMRITSAR Amritsar, Punjab 143005 India

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Status of Women in India

• Global Gender Gap Report 2023 : India ranked at 127.
• Nagaland elected her first women legislator (Hekani Jakhalu) in the recent election, showing the low participation rate of women in politics in states as well.
• Low female Literacy Rate, child marriage prevalence, son-meta preference, female infanticide etc. are still prevalent in India showing dismal condition of women in India.

Current Context regarding Women Empowerment

• India, under its G20 Presidency, took forward its women-led development agenda through the  G20 EMPOWER 2023 .
• The theme for the second EMPOWER meeting held in  Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala , was  “Women’s Empowerment: A Win-Win for Equity and Economy.”
• This  inclusive, ambitious, and action-oriented G20 Presidency is perfectly timed to accelerate the global focus on empowering women.

Social Structure and Women in India  

• Control over female sexuality was integral to the formation of the social structure, driven by the need to maintain caste purity and economic power.
• Sons are preferred, leading to son preference and daughter neglect in terms of resources and opportunities (missing daughter).
• Media, school books, and societal norms reinforce gender stereotypes and restrict opportunities for girls.
• In urban areas, upper-caste women from the middle class have emerged from seclusion to pursue education and employment.
• Gender disparities persist in terms of enrolment rates, retention, and educational attainment levels.
• Lack of property rights and financial inclusion further hinder their economic empowerment.
• Reproductive Health and Rights : Limited access to healthcare services, high maternal mortality rates, and inadequate family planning measures affect women's overall well-being and decision-making autonomy.
• Although reservation policies have increased women's participation in local governance (Panchayati Raj Institutions), their representation at higher levels of government is still limited.
• Gender-based Violence : Women in India often face various forms of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, dowry-related violence, and female infanticide.
• Domestic Violence and Dowry Deaths: Violence against women within the family was traditionally considered a family matter rather than a crime against women, but awareness has been growing.
• Female Feticide and Infanticide: According to a survey by the British medical journal Lancet, India has witnessed nearly 10 million female abortions in the past two decades.
• The Delhi gang rape case in December 2016 triggered widespread protests, led to the establishment of the Justice Verma panel, and facilitated fast-track judgments.
• Gender Pay Gap: Women often face disparities in wages and salaries compared to their male counterparts, resulting in a gender pay gap.

Right to safe and legal abortion

• The Supreme Court has held that all women, irrespective of their marital status, are entitled to safe and legal abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

About MTP Act –

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 came into force on 1st of April 1972 based on the report of the Shantilal Shah Committee in India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Under the act, terminating a pregnancy between 12 to 20 weeks will require the medical advice of two doctors on the pretext of risk of life to the women, or risk of grave injury (Physical or mental), or a risk of child born being physically or mentally abnormal posing as a seriously handicapped.

Amendment in 2021:

• New amendment allows for abortions based on the advice of one doctor for pregnancies up to 20 weeks and needs the opinion of two doctors for pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks under seven categories to be eligible for seeking termination under section 3B of rules prescribed under the MTP Act,
• Survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest
• Change of marital status during the ongoing pregnancy (widowhood and divorce)
• Women with physical disabilities (major disability as per criteria laid down under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016)
• Mentally ill women including mental retardation
• The foetal malformation that has a substantial risk of being incompatible with life or if the child is born it may suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped
• Women with pregnancy in humanitarian settings or disasters or emergencies may be declared by the Government.
• The petitioners have challenged their exclusion from availing surrogacy under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

      Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021 -

• It provided a gestation period of ten months from the date of coming into force to existing surrogate mother’s to protect their well-being.
• Only a married couple who has a medical condition necessitating gestational surrogacy can avail it.
• They must first obtain a certificate of recommendation from a District Medical Board.
• It also bans commercial surrogacy, which is punishable with a jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakhs.

Special Marriage Act

News - Several interfaith couples have chosen to marry under a secular personal law through the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

• It was passed by Parliament on October 9, 1954.
• It governs a civil marriage where the state sanctions the marriage rather than the religion.

Eligibility criteria -

• The Act extends to the people of all faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, across India.
• The minimum age to get married under the SMA is 21 years for males and 18 years for females.

Solutions to the challenges faced by women

• Education and Awareness: Promote gender equality education and awareness programs. -> Support girls' education and lifelong learning opportunities.
• Legal Reforms and Enforcement: Strengthen laws and ensure strict enforcement for women's rights.   -> Establish specialized courts and fast-track procedures for gender-based crimes.
• Economic Empowerment: Address gender pay gap and support women entrepreneurs.   -> Enhance financial inclusion and access to resources for women.
• Health and Well-being: Improve healthcare access, including reproductive and preventive care.   -> Provide counselling and support for victims of violence.
• Women's Reservation Bill: It can help in promoting women's political participation and addressing the gender disparity in decision-making roles.
• Social and Cultural Change: Challenge gender norms through awareness campaigns and media.   -> Promote positive role models and narratives for gender equality.
• Support Systems and Services: Establish shelters, helplines, and counselling for women in need.   -> Train professionals to respond sensitively to women's issues.
• Technology and Digital Inclusion: Bridge the digital gender divide and provide digital literacy programs. -> Promote women's participation in the digital economy.

  Government of India's Women Empowerment Programs/Schemes

• Gender Budgeting : Introduced in Australia in the 1980s, India adopted it in 2005-06 to ensure a gender perspective in policy formulation and budgetary commitments.
• Nirbhaya Fund: Established in 2013 with a corpus of Rs. 1,000 crores to promote women's safety and empowerment.
• Maternity Benefit Act: The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, amended in 2017, provides paid maternity leave and crèche facility. Maternity leave increased from 12 to 26 weeks, with the option for work from home based on mutual agreement.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Campaign promoting awareness and enhancing welfare services for girls in India.
• Working Women Hostel : Aims to provide safe accommodation with daycare facilities for working women in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.
• Support to Training cum Employment for Women (STEP) : Launched in 1986, it offers training and employment opportunities for women below the poverty line in sectors like agriculture and animal husbandry.
• Swayamsidha : An integrated program promoting women's empowerment through awareness, economic independence, and convergence of services like literacy and health.
• Swa Shakti: Aims to establish self-reliant women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to enhance women's access to resources and address their needs.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: A national mechanism providing micro-credit to poor and asset-less women in the informal sector to meet their financial needs.
• Swadhar : Provides support and necessities to marginalised women and girls facing difficult circumstances, including survivors of violence and natural disasters.

Government response and Measures

• Institutional Measures: Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, National Commission for Women
• Schemes and Initiatives : Promotion of Women SHGs through National Rural Livelihood Mission, Swa Shakti
• Access to Credit: NABARD-SHG Bank Linkage program, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh

Conclusion: Women's issues in India continue to pose significant challenges despite efforts towards empowerment and gender equality. The prevalence of violence, discrimination, and limited economic opportunities hinder women's progress. However, through comprehensive legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and targeted programs, positive steps have been taken. Continued collective action is necessary to address deep-rooted social norms, ensure safety and equal opportunities, and create an inclusive society where women can thrive and achieve their full potential.

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Role of Women in India

Sub-Categories:

Indian Society

Table of Contents

• How has the role and status of women in India evolved over time
• What is the role of women in Indian society in general
• What is the role of women in Indian politics
• What is the role of women in India39s Economic growth story
• What is the role of women in environmental conservation and sustainable development
• What measures could help enhance the role of women

Mains: Role of Women and Women’s Organization

How has the role and status of women in India evolved over time?

The role and status of women in India's history have been complex and varied . Historically, the Indian society has been patriarchal, with men holding more power and status than women.

• During the Indus Valley civilization, and the Vedic period , Women enjoyed equal status in society. 
• They participated politically by attending Sabha and Samithis . Some significant female figures of the Vedic period are Ghosha, Lopamudra, Sulabha Maitreyi, and Gargi.
• The status of women began to decline in the later Vedic period, and many social restrictions were placed upon them. There was evidence of sati during the Gupta Period . 
• During Medieval times , the social status of a woman, both in Hindu and Muslim communities, was very low . 
• Females belonging to the nobility observed purdah and were rarely allowed to go outside the house. The custom of sati has become more common.
• With the rise of Social reform movements , there was an improvement in the status of women in Indian Society during British rule . 
• With the efforts of reformers, Sati was abolished in 1829, and the Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856 .
• Women participated in the Indian anti-imperialist struggle in large numbers through important movements.  

What is the role of women in Indian society in general? 

In traditional Indian society, the social role of women has been primarily as a wife and mothers. In recent years, there has been a shift in the social role of women in India. 

• Women are the key to sustainable development and quality of life in the family. 
• Various roles women assume in the family are those of wife, leader, administrator, manager of family income, and most importantly, the mother.
• Women play a key role in educating children. The development of future generations depends upon women. 
• According to an Annual Status of Education Report ( ASER) report, the education levels of a mother have a strong correlation with the holistic development of children. 
• Women are responsible for 70-80% of all the healthcare provided in India. Female healthcare providers can be important in educating society to recognize their health and nutrition needs. 
• Women professionals and the empowerment of women at all levels are required for the improvement of the health and nutrition status in India.
• Women are essential contributors to all four aspects of food security, including availability, access, utilization, and stability . 
• They serve as food producers, farmers, and entrepreneurs, as well as " gatekeepers " who make critical decisions and invest time and income to ensure the food and nutrition security of their households and communities.

What is the role of women in Indian politics?

The political role of women in India has been complex and evolving. Historically, women in India have been underrepresented in politics, with a low percentage of women in positions of power. 

• Women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy . 
• There is also strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policy-making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families , women, and ethnic and racial minorities.
• The three main parameters to assess the state of women’s participation in politics in India are: Women voter turnout , women's candidature in elections, and women representation in political offices.
• The female voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections has increased from 46.6% in 1962 to 66.9% in 2019, which indicates their increasing role in politics. Also, the number of female representatives in the Lok sabha increased from 5% in 1951 to 14% in 2019. 
• Representation of women leaders at the grassroots level in India is nearly 50% , especially since the 73rd and 74th amendments in 1992 , which allotted one-third of all seats to women .

What is the role of women in India's Economic growth story? 

The economic role of women in India has traditionally been limited, with many women facing cultural, social, and economic barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the workforce. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the important role that women play in the Indian economy.

• The present contribution of women to the national GDP is around 18%.
• In India, women comprise 48% of the agricultural workforce and own only 13% of the land. Women in India constitute around  20% of the manufacturing workforce and around 30% of the total workforce in the services sector.
• At present, there are 432 million women of working age in India, out of which 343 million are employed in the unorganized sector . 
• India has the 3rd largest ecosystem in terms of Startups in the world, and 10% of them have been led by women founders. Also, research shows that ventures started by women are more sustainable in nature. 
• In 2022 , a survey among 250 Indian companies revealed that the share of women in the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director roles has increased by 55 % which reflected significant growth in their role in driving the economy.

What is the role of women in environmental conservation and sustainable development? 

In India, women have traditionally played a significant role in environmental conservation and management, particularly in rural communities where they often rely on natural resources for their livelihoods and well-being. 

• In most developing countries like India,  women play a major role as farmers , animal rearers, and water and fuel collectors. 
• Various environmental movements like the Bishnoi movement, Chipko Movement, Appiko movement, Silent valley movement, and Narmada Bachao Andolan are the significant environmental movements of India that reflect the integral leadership of women. 
• The government of India has adopted various policies and programmes such as the Joint Forest Management (JFM) program of the 1990s mandated that women comprise 33% of the membership in the management committees. 
• Today, there is a growing emphasis on " mainstreaming " women's role in the planning , implementing, and monitoring of all sustainable development and environmental management programmes. 

What measures could help enhance the role of women? 

• Improving access to education : By increasing access to quality education for girls, as well as education and training programs that help women to develop the skills they need to participate in the workforce.
• Providing support services: Support services such as affordable childcare, healthcare , and transportation can help women to balance the demands of work and family life.
• Encouraging women's participation in leadership roles: Initiatives to promote women's leadership in politics, business, and other fields, as well as mentoring and networking programs that help women to develop the skills and connections they need to succeed.
• Addressing discrimination and bias: This includes efforts to combat discrimination and bias in the workplace, as well as in other areas of life. 
• Encouraging community participation: Encouraging community participation and creating an enabling environment for women to take on leadership roles through creating platforms for dialogue, capacity-building, and networking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q) what is chipko movement .

The Chipko Movement, also known as the Chipko Andolan, was a nonviolent environmental movement that began in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in the 1970s. The movement was led primarily by rural women, who sought to protect their local forests from commercial logging and deforestation.

Q) What is the female labor force participation rate?  

The female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) is the percentage of working-age women currently employed or seeking employment. This metric is used to measure the level of women's participation in the labor force and is an indicator of gender equality in the workplace.  

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Essay on Women’s Reservation in Parliament India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Women’s Reservation in Parliament India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Women’s Reservation in Parliament India

Introduction.

Women’s Reservation in Parliament is a crucial subject in India. It aims to increase the representation of women in political arenas.

Current Scenario

At present, women’s representation in Indian Parliament is less than 15%. Despite women comprising about half of the population, their political participation is low.

Need for Reservation

The reservation is necessary to ensure women’s voices are heard. It can help address gender disparities and promote social justice.

Women’s Reservation in Parliament is a step towards gender equality. It can empower women and contribute to a balanced society.

250 Words Essay on Women’s Reservation in Parliament India

The need for women’s reservation.

Women constitute approximately half of India’s population but their representation in Parliament is dismal. This underrepresentation hinders the development of effective policies that address women’s issues. Therefore, a quota system is seen as an essential tool to ensure women’s voices are heard.

The Women’s Reservation Bill

The Women’s Reservation Bill, proposing a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, has been a contentious issue. Despite being introduced in 1996, the bill has not been passed due to various political hurdles.

Challenges and Criticisms

Opponents argue that the reservation system may not truly empower women, rather it might be misused to promote proxies. There’s also a concern that it might undermine the democratic principle of equal opportunity by promoting gender over merit.

While the Women’s Reservation Bill is a step towards gender equality, it should be accompanied by societal changes that foster a culture of respect and equality. Women’s political empowerment is not just about numbers, but about creating an environment where women can make significant contributions to the decision-making process.

500 Words Essay on Women’s Reservation in Parliament India

The topic of Women’s Reservation in Parliament in India is a pressing issue that has been at the center of political discourse for several years. The Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, seeks to reserve one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. This essay will discuss the significance, challenges, and potential impacts of this legislation.

The Significance of Women’s Reservation

Challenges in implementing women’s reservation.

Despite its importance, the Women’s Reservation Bill has faced significant resistance. Critics argue that it may only benefit women from privileged backgrounds, exacerbating social inequalities. Others contend that it would lead to proxy representation, with male politicians using female relatives as figureheads. Additionally, there are concerns that it could disrupt existing political dynamics, leading to resistance from male politicians.

The Potential Impact of Women’s Reservation

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of women’s reservation in Parliament are substantial. Research from around the world shows that women in politics tend to prioritize issues such as education, health, and social justice. Increased representation of women in the Indian Parliament could therefore lead to more attention and resources being allocated to these critical areas.

The Women’s Reservation Bill represents a crucial step towards gender equality in India. While it faces significant challenges and resistance, its potential impact on governance, social justice, and gender norms cannot be underestimated. It is essential for the Indian society and its political leaders to recognize the importance of women’s representation in Parliament and work towards making this a reality. The journey towards achieving this goal may be fraught with obstacles, but the destination promises a more inclusive and equitable India.

In conclusion, the Women’s Reservation in Parliament is not just about numbers or token representation. It is about making the Indian democracy truly representative and responsive to all its citizens. It is about empowering women to take their rightful place in the decision-making processes that shape the nation’s future. And most importantly, it is about building an India where gender is no longer a barrier to opportunity and achievement.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Women In Indian Politics

Role of Women in Indian Politics

-Vipul Pandey

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Status of Women in India

• 19 Aug 2022
• 14 min read
• GS Paper - 1
• Role of Women
• Social Empowerment
• Issues Related to Women

This editorial is based on “Is moral policing the newest deterrent to female labour force participation?” which was published in Hindustan Times on 19/08/2022. It talks about the current status of Women in India and their workforce participation.

For Prelims: Female Infanticide, Glass Ceiling, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, Ujjawala Yojna, Swadhar Greh, One Stop Centre, Constitutional Provisions Related to Women Empowerment

For Mains: Status of Women in India, Areas of Concern Related to Women in India, Recent Government Schemes Related to Women Empowerment, Women Led Development

The form and extent of work, political participation, levels of education, state of health, representation in decision making bodies, access to property etc. are some relevant indicators of status of the individual members in a society. However, not all members of a society, especially women , have equal access to the factors which constitute these indicators of status.

Patriarchal norms restrict Indian women's education and employment choices , from the choice to acquire education to the entry into the workforce and to the nature of work.

Let us understand where women, who constitute almost half of the country’s citizenry, stand today in the fight for freedom, dignity, equality and representation.

What Does the Constitution Say About Women Empowerment?

• The Constitution not only guarantees equality to women, but also provides the State with the power to take measures of positive discrimination in favor of women in order to mitigate their cumulative socio-economic and political disadvantages.
• Women have fundamental rights to not be discriminated on the grounds of sex ( Article 15 ) and get equal protection under the law. ( Article 14 )
• It also imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

What are the Areas Where Women have Done Exceptionally Well in India?

• Sindhutai Sapkal ( Padma Shri 2021) - Raising Orphaned Children
• Tulsi Godwa ( Padma Shri 2021) - Encyclopaedia of Forest
• Avani Chaturvedi - First Indian Woman to fly a solo fighter aircraft (MiG-21 Bison)
• Mary Kom - First woman from the country to win a medal in boxing at the Olympics.
• PV Sindhu - First Indian woman to claim two Olympic medals (Bronze- Tokyo 2020) and (Silver- Rio 2016).
• Indian Women's Cricket Team - Finalist, Commonwealth Games 2022
• Gita Gopinath - First Woman Chief Economist at the IMF (International Monetary Fund).
• Tessy Thomas - Missile Woman of India ( Agni-V missile project)
• Shakuntala Devi - Guinness World Record for Fastest Human Computation.
• Shanan Dhaka - AIR 1 National Defence Academy Entrance Examination (1 st Women's Batch of NDA)
• Top 3 All India Ranks were achieved by female candidates in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021.

What are the Current Areas of Concern Related to Women in India?

• Schools in rural India are at considerable distances and in absence of strong local law and order, women find it unsafe to travel long distances for schooling.
• Traditional practices like female infanticide , dowry , and early marriage have also contributed to the problem as many families find it economically unviable to educate the girl child.
• For example, women may be considered to be less reliable as workers because of their child-rearing functions.
• Women are expected to be soft-spoken, calm, and quiet. They should walk, talk, sit and behave in a certain manner. Whereas men ought to be confident, loud, and could display any behaviour as per their wish.
• According to the report of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women , India ranks 148 out of 193 countries in the number of elected female representatives in parliament.
• Safety Concern : In India, despite of continuous efforts in the field of Safety, women are threatened by various acts via feticides, domestic violence , rape , trafficking , forced prostitution, honour killings, sexual harassment at workplace etc.
• According to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) study conducted in 2011 only 13% of girls in India are aware of menstruation before menarche.
• Glass Ceiling : Women not only in India but across the globe face a social barrier preventing women from being promoted to top jobs in management.

What are the Recent Government Schemes Related to Women Empowerment?

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
• Ujjawala Yojna
• Swadhar Greh
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme
• One Stop Centre

What Should be the Way Forward?

• It also enables people to change she/her status in society. Education enables and builds confidence to make decisions in a better way.
• Also, education policy should target young men and boys to positively change their attitudes towards girls and women.
• Training women in non-traditional skills with market demand, creating more public and private sector jobs for women is important for financial empowerment.
• Panic Button , Nirbhaya Police Squad are some good steps in the direction of women’s safety.
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was enacted to ensure safe working spaces for women and to build an enabling environment that respects women’s right of equality of status and opportunity.
• With a small procession to celebrate the arrival of the daughter, parents of new-born baby girls are felicitated with baby kits under the Ladli Lakshmi Scheme.
• Their footprints are outlined on a chart paper and are put up on the wall of the AWC with the mother’s and baby girls’ names.
• Reward should be given to villages/districts that are able to attain equal child sex ratio through education, information and communication campaigns.
• Additional emphasis should be laid on e-governance so that there is a timely check on the expenditure released by the centre and various state governments for scholarships for girl students.
• For instance, domestic work for rural women often includes arduous tasks such as fetching water and fuelwood. Piped drinking water and clean natural gas (already improving) will reduce this load.
• The ripple effects of Women Led Development are undeniable as an educated and empowered woman will ensure education and empowerment for future generations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for Women’s development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements: (2010)

• Swayam Siddha is meant for those in difficult circumstances such as women survivors of natural disasters or terrorism, women prisoners released from jails, mentally challenged women etc., whereas Swadhar is meant for holistic empowerment of women through Self Help Groups.
• Swayam Siddha is implemented through Local Self Government bodies or reputed Voluntary Organizations whereas Swadhar is implemented through the ICDS units set up in the states.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q.1 “Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss. (2019)

Q.2 Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India? (2015)

Q.3 Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment. (2013)

• Library of Congress
• Research Guides
• Multiple Research Centers

American Women: A Guide to Women's History Resources at the Library of Congress

Introduction.

• Using the Library of Congress

General Inquiries : Ask a Librarian

Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.

Chat with a librarian , Monday through Friday, 12-4pm Eastern Time (except Federal Holidays).

Editors: Barbara Bavis, Bibliographic and Research Instruction Librarian, Law Library of Congress

Elizabeth Fulford, Senior Network Specialist, Network Development and MARC Standards Office

Note: This guide is a collection of the Library of Congress Research Guides produced as a part of the American Women Series, originally published as American Women: A Library of Congress Guide for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States (Library of Congress, 2001).

Created: December 16, 2021

Last Updated: December 16, 2021

This research guide gathers together and updates most of the topical and format-based sections of the online presentation of 456-page print resource guide entitled,  American Women: A Library of Congress Guide for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States , which was published in December 2001 by the Library of Congress in cooperation with the University Press of New England.

• "American Women: Guide to Women's History Resources Published," by Robin Rausch Read an article on the original print publication from the Library of Congress Information Bulletin (LCIB), January 2002.

Table of Contents

Each component of this series is published as an individual research guide and can be accessed from the following links:

Selected Images from the Library of Congress

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. The Women's March was a worldwide protest...to advocate legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues, including women's rights... 2017. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

United States National Park Service, contributor. Women's Rights : Women's Rights National Historical Park, New York . 1995. Library of Congress Geography and Maps Division.

Beverly Robinson, photographer. Mrs. Fannie Lee Teals, of Tifton, Georgia, posing with a quilt top she made, inspired by the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. Library of Congress American Folklife Center.

Charles Dana Gibson. Studies in expression. When women are jurors. [1902]. Cabinet of American Illustration. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

H.M. Coushá, artist. Detail from "Shell road map: Pennsylvania" showing woman driving a car with license plates in the background. 1933. Library of Congress Geography & Map Division.

Liza Donovan, artist. Hear our voice Women's March on Washington, January 21, 2017. Courtesy of Amplifier Foundation (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. At the Ground Zero blues club in Clarksdale, Mississippi,...Michelle Powell-Dotson, Arzella Monix, Erma Akines, and ...Necki Akines..., await a performance... 2016. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Div.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. The "When Anthony Met Stanton" scupture, by artist Ted Aub, in Seneca Falls, New York. 2018. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Preface by carla d. hayden.

The Library of Congress has a long tradition of collecting women’s history materials in a variety of formats and subject areas. As noted in the preface to the first American Women guide, published in 2001, “For two hundred years, the Library of Congress…has been gathering materials necessary to tell the stories of women in America.” 1 The Library identified women’s suffrage as a targeted subject for acquisitions with surprising foresight, and it continues to build and strengthen its holdings to document the diversity of American women’s lives.

In 1903 the sixth Librarian of Congress, Ainsworth Spofford, convinced his friend, suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony, to donate her personal collection of more than 250 books and other printed material to the Library. As Anthony prepared her donation, she inscribed many of the books with commentary on their history and importance, creating a valuable record of her reflections on a lifetime of activism.

The Library’s curators soon began amassing manuscripts, scrapbooks, photographs, and other items relating to the struggle for women’s rights, including the papers of Carrie Chapman Catt, Mary Church Terrell, and other suffragists, as well as the records of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Woman’s Party. Together these items form a compelling documentary history of the suffrage campaign from its early connections to the abolition and temperance movements to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment—known as the Anthony Amendment—in August 1920. In fighting for the right to vote, women formed national political organizations and developed new strategies for protest. Women had always represented a vital, but often unacknowledged, part of the nation’s history, and the suffrage movement brought them into the public sphere in new and more visible ways.

Scholarship in women’s history, gender history, women’s studies, and related fields is essential to how we understand American history. This recently revised and updated American Women guide highlights new collection materials and research tools and makes these resources more easily discoverable by researchers. We hope that this guide continues to inspire researchers of all levels in making new discoveries and charting new perspectives on American women.

Carla D. Hayden , Librarian of Congress

• See the preface to the print version of American Women: A Library of Congress Guide for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States, , 2001. Digitized version available online from HathiTrust Back to text
• Next: Using the Library of Congress >>
• Last Updated: Jul 3, 2024 11:51 AM
• URL: https://guides.loc.gov/american-women

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At the Democratic Convention, a Historic Nomination

What story did the democrats tell about kamala harris and will it be enough to win.

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

I’m standing in a sea of people coming out of this vast convention. And people are holding signs, smiling. There’s confetti everywhere. There are balloons, white, red, and blue. And there’s a lot of excitement.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily” from inside the Democratic National Convention Hall, where Kamala Harris has just accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in US history to do so.

Today, the story this convention told about Harris and whether that story could be enough to win.

It’s Friday, August 23.

[SERENE MUSIC]

The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall our our legacy be? What will our children say? Let me in my heart, when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you.

On night one of the Democratic National Convention, the evening was really defined by this very emotional, quite bittersweet goodbye from President Biden.

And there’s nothing we cannot do when we do it together.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

It was the closing of one chapter so that another could begin. It was Kamala Harris’s moment.

[UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]

So right now, it’s 7:40. We are on the floor at the Democratic National Convention. It is a crazy party atmosphere, which is like a massive understatement.

Day two kicked off with delegates gathering on the convention floor, casting their votes in a kind of symbolic way to make Harris the party’s nominee.

This giant festival of lights, people in cowboy hats, people with blinking bracelets, people with Christmas lights wrapped around their hats, heads, shoulders, people wearing donkey hats. I mean, it’s very, very, very celebratory in here.

We need to see that we’re moving on. We are turning a chapter in America.

How do you feel right now?

Awesome, excitement, energized. Ready to win this election.

I love it. I love it. People are just excited, electrified, and they’re just loving it, and they’re happy.

This has been the most electrifying event I’ve ever attended in my life. It’s my first convention. But what a convention to come for, right? To make history right now, as we charge forward to November 5, to elect the first female Black president. I’m excited.

So with Harris now the nominee, a new campaign slogan appeared everywhere. And that was, “A new way forward.” But in a campaign that’s just four weeks old, it was really an open question what “a new way forward” actually meant.

We’re not going back!

We’re not going back! We’re not going back!

And then over the course of the week, as speaker after speaker took the stage, we started to get an answer. The story of forward would be told through the story of Kamala Harris herself. And the question hanging over the week was really whether that story could appeal to a broad majority of Americans, voters outside of the convention hall who will ultimately decide the election.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Astead, welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Again. The second time in a week. And I’m very excited for it.

So Astead, we had on the show on Monday to answer a question for us, that I think a lot of people have, which is, who is Kamala Harris? And you ended that conversation by saying that the Democratic Party also recognizes this reality, that for a lot of people, she is still this unknown quantity.

And that the party had a big task here at the convention this week, which was to find a way to finally tell her story. It does seem like they’ve tried to do that. Let’s walk through the case that they’re making for her. And what you’ve seen here in your reporting for your show, “The Run-Up.”

Yeah, I mean, I think that the Democrats have definitely laid out a case for her as a candidate, but also a story for her as a person. They have leaned into the different parts of her biography to really follow through on what, I think, is the best version of her campaign, which is a little bit for everybody. There is a story there about more moderate legislation, but pieces of progressive history. There’s different parts of her bio that speak to Black communities, immigrant communities.

Of course, the historic nature of her gender and the roles like that. And I really think it has followed through on what I expected for this week, which is that she seems to function politically as a mirror of some sort, where the party wants to position her as someone who basically, no matter what you’re looking for in terms of a vessel to beat Donald Trump, you can find it in this candidate.

Let’s dig into that more. Where did the convention start, that story?

Hello, Democrats!

Yeah, I think it really starts in her personal biography.

And I’m here tonight to tell you all about the Kamala Harris that I know.

They have told a story that she often tells about her being a first generation American.

Her mother moved here from India at 19.

And being a daughter of an immigrant mother who really raised two daughters in the Bay Area from working class roots. And that’s been a real thing that they’ve tried to own.

Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.

When she was young, she worked at McDonald’s.

They talk about her working at McDonald’s in college.

And she greeted every person without thousand watt smile and said, how can I help you?

I think it’s overall about trying to present this as someone who pulled himself up by bootstraps. It represents the American dream. And I think for Democrats, it really returns them back to the place they want to be. Democrats like thinking of themselves as a party who appeals to the diversity of America, both in racial ways, in gender ways, but also in class ways.

In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class.

And I think they used other parts of her identity, specifically thinking about being the first Black woman to accept a major party’s nomination.

We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth.

And I think Michelle Obama’s speech, specifically, spoke to the power and anxiety that sometimes that identity can bring.

My husband and I sadly know a little something about this.

For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black.

And I would also say that it was an implicit response to what Republicans and others have been trying to say, talking about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire, someone who was only in their position because of their identity. But the way that Michelle Obama framed it was that those identities have power.

I want to know. I want to know. Who’s going to tell him, who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?

Just because someone the first to be in a position, does not mean that is the only reason in the position. But it also doesn’t make those identities meaningless. The fact that she is a Black woman should be seen as a strength, not as a weakness.

Is there a risk to that, though? I mean, by openly talking about race, is there a risk that goes too far and begins to alienate voters outside the convention out in the world who they need to win in November.

I mean, there’s always a risk. But I don’t really think so. Democrats have had increasing trouble with Black voters. There’s been a downturn in Black vote share all the way dating back to 2012.

In Biden’s now suspended candidacy, that was one of the things driving his polling weaknesses was kind of tepid reception from Black voters. A pitch to them is something that is a upside of the Kamala Harris campaign. And the hope that they could consolidate that community is where any Democratic nominee needs to be as a baseline.

We both got our start as young lawyers, helping children who were abused and neglected.

One thing I noticed that came up a lot during the speeches was her background as a prosecutor. How did the party present that part of her biography?

As a prosecutor, Kamala stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse.

She put rapists, child molesters, and murderers behind bars.

They talk about it in the way that I think fuels what they want to say is the reason she can take on Trump, that this is someone who has stood up to bullies before, who’s not going to be intimidated easily —

And Kamala is as tough as it comes.

— who’s tough, and who doesn’t shirk away from a challenge.

And she knows the best way to deal with a coward is to take him head on, because we all know cowards are weak. And Kamala Harris can smell weakness.

I think all of that adds up to say, you can trust this person to go up against Donald Trump. You can trust this person to go up against the Republican Party, because she’s not someone who is scared.

She never runs from a fight.

A woman, a fierce woman for the people.

But then, of course, we heard about another side of Kamala Harris, a more personal side.

Yeah, and I think this is the part of Kamala Harris where I think was kind of most missing in the presidential run. Frankly, it’s the part that she keeps most private. She is a warm family member and friend.

Hello to my big, beautiful blended family up there.

And I think what the speech from her husband did was really show and lay that out.

I got married, became a dad to Cole and Ella. Unfortunately, went through a divorce, but eventually started worrying about how I would make it all work. And that’s when something unexpected happened, I ended up with Kamala Harris’s phone number.

He talks about the kind of awkwardness of their first interaction.

I got Kamala’s voicemail, and I just started rambling. “Hey, it’s Doug.”

And I think you have a real kind of sense of their genuine connection to one another.

By the way, Kamala saved that voicemail. And she makes me listen to it on every anniversary.

Like, yes, this is someone who is tough, who is taking on corporations and cartels and all of that stuff by day. But this is someone who also makes a point to cook Sunday dinner for family every week.

And she makes a mean brisket for Passover.

And makes sure to really go close to his kids and is very close with her family.

That’s Kamala. She’s always been there for our children. And I know she’ll always be there for yours, too.

Going back to the last time the Democratic Party nominated a woman, Hillary Clinton, she had presented herself in a very different way. She kind of ran away from that stuff. She was saying, I don’t bake cookies, that’s not what I do. I’m kind of out there with the men, fighting.

And this convention and this candidate, Harris, is very different. She’s a newer generation. And she can do her career and bake cookies. Those things are not in conflict. This is a different type of woman leader.

This week we talked to Senator Elizabeth Warren on “The Run-Up,” and one of the things that she mentioned was she feels that there’s been a big change from 2016, even 2020 to now. Not just the amount of women in public office, but she said they don’t have to choose between sides of themselves. And I think that’s what diversity means.

Of course, Kamala Harris can be a tough politician and also bake cookies. Hillary Clinton did that, too. It was just that she was told that was not the way that she had to present herself. What Kamala Harris is benefiting from is there’s a greater space and ability to choose multiple things at once. And so particularly if others are going to talk more directly about gender or race or other things, that kind of frees her from having the burden of doing that herself.

And in fact, Hillary Clinton, herself, did speak, of course, on day one. She talked about that glass ceiling in the history that has led to now, including her own experience in 2016.

Yeah, I thought the Hillary Clinton speech was really powerful. I think a lot of the speakers put this moment in historical context, both politically and personally.

My mother, Dorothy, was born right here in Chicago before women had the right to vote. That changed 104 years ago yesterday. And since that day, every generation has carried the torch forward. In 1972, a fearless Black congresswoman named Shirley Chisholm —

— she ran for president. In 1984, I brought my daughter to see Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated for vice president. And then there was 2016, when it was the honor of my life to accept our party’s nomination for president.

The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother, the woman who showed me the power of my own voice. My mother volunteered at the local school.

I’m the proud granddaughter of a housekeeper, Sarah Daisy, who raised her three children in a one-bedroom apartment. It was her dream to work in government, to help people.

My grandmother, the woman who helped raise me as a child, a little old white lady born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas.

I want to talk now about somebody who’s not with us tonight. Tessie Prevost Williams was born in New Orleans not long after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional. That was in 1954, same year I was born. Parents pulled their kids out of the school.

There was a way that I think the candidacy and the person was placed in a long legacy, both about gender identity and racial identity that kind of teed up this Thursday as a culminating moment, both politically and I think, in a broader historical context.

Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. And you know what? On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States!

I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us. They would say, keep going. Shirley and Jerry would say, keep going!

I think you can do a lot to set up a candidate to be in a good position. All of this stuff adds up to some part of the puzzle, but the biggest piece is the candidate themself. At the end of the day, they have to close the deal. And I think this moment is her chance to tell her own story in a way that sometimes she has not decided to. And that’s still what this whole convention success and failure will ride on.

We’re going to watch tonight. We’re going to watch with our colleague, Reid Epstein. And you are going to have a great episode of “The Run-Up” on Friday. We will all be tuning in.

Thank you. I appreciate you doing this, Sabrina.

Really thanks a lot, Astead.

Are you a delegate?

Sorry, we caught you mid French fry eating. What’s your feeling about Kamala and what her story has been? Are you getting to know her this week? Are there things you’ve learned about her this week?

Yeah, I’m learning more and more as we go along. The more and more I learn about her, the more I’m impressed with her. I mean, she worked at McDonald’s when she was going to college to try to pay her way through.

Her very small beginnings. Not a trust fund baby type of thing. I relate to that. Like, I was on food stamps this year. So it’s like if she can do it with that background, it gives everybody hope.

Hillary was my girl. When Hillary ran, I championed her as well. But I didn’t feel this way as I feel about Harris. I’m like, do I want to run for office? If she can do it, I can. She looks just like me, right? She represents, she works at McDonald’s. She paid for every. It’s relatable. And that’s what everybody needs.

We’re going to break that glass ceiling. I’m getting teary, teary in my eyes. And it just means so much to be inclusive.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

What does it mean to you that Kamala Harris is a woman? What does it mean to you that she’s a Black woman?

To have a Black woman become the president of the United States, and for her to turn the world upside down in 30 days, to know that I’m in the midst of this miraculous history is phenomenal.

One delegate who really stood out to us was Beverly Hatcher, a 76-year-old Black woman from Texas.

I was raised by a wonderful Baptist mama. I just lost her. But I am who I am because of my mother. We were always pushed to do whatever we wanted to do. I’ll never forget. I wanted to be a majorette. I taught myself, because we had no money for, what is it called, lessons

And a majorette is like the baton twirler, right?

Yes. And when I did finally try out in my 11th grade, I won right off. And my classmates, who were predominantly white, as years have gone by, have told me at class reunions and stuff, Beverly, the sleepy town of Wellington woke up.

Oh, my god, we got a Black girl getting ready to be the head majorette. But it happened because I had the drive and the will. My mother and my family stood behind me, and didn’t miss a parade, or a football game, or a basketball game.

And you see that in Harris?

Beverly, what would your mom say if she saw this?

My sisters have been telling me every day how proud my mom is. And I’m just happy. I’m happy to make her happy. Yeah.

We women, who have had mothers like Kamala, like Michelle, I remember Hillary’s mother, we women value their strength and their wisdom. And we’re just glad that they gave us a legacy to pass it on.

Thank you very much.

We’ll be right back.

Reid, hello.

OK. Kamala Harris just wrapped up her acceptance speech. Before we talk about what she said and the case she presented, tell us how her campaign was thinking about the stakes of this moment.

Sabrina, this evening was one of two opportunities, along with the debate next month, for her to speak to tens of millions of people at once. And so for that, the stakes were really high.

Her goal was to present herself as a serious person and a serious candidate, who was not the candidate who flamed out in 2019 or the unsteady vice president from the beginning of her term. She had to show that she had the gravitas to be the commander in chief, the political aptitude to reach out to the middle, and also to progressives in her party all at the same time.

A very tall order. Tell us how she went about doing that.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening.

Well, she started talking around 9:30 Chicago time to a packed United Center with 14,000 or 15,000 people, many, many wearing all white, the color of the suffragettes, a color that makes a statement just by wearing it. And when Harris took the stage —

— they erupted in a cheer that forced her for a couple of minutes to wait before she could start talking.

Thank you. OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

And what did she finally say once she started talking?

She told the story of her life.

The path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.

My mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now.

She talked about the influence of her mother, who raised her and her sister.

And she also taught us, “And never do anything half-assed.” And that is a direct quote. [LAUGHS]

She spoke about her family’s humble beginnings in Oakland.

Before she could finally afford to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay.

Then she started talking about her career as a prosecutor.

In the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge and I said five words.

She brought back one of the lines that she used in her 2020 campaign about how when she stood up in a courtroom, she began with the same words.

Kamala Harris for the people.

And she said she would bring that same philosophy to the White House, that she was not working for specific individuals, but for the people at large.

And so on behalf of the people —

Eventually she did a bigger wind up to formally accepting the nomination.

— on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender, or the language your grandmother speaks —

And listed the people on whose behalf she did so.

— on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth —

It was really a kind of a feat of speech writing to build up to this big emotional moment.

— I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America.

And what did you make of that, how she was doing that?

It was building up this speech to be a serious political document and present her as a serious figure in this moment. And so she still has to prove to people that she is capable of being the commander in chief and running the country.

And how does she try to prove that she’s capable of being a commander in chief?

What she did was try to draw the distinction between herself and Donald Trump.

In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.

And she warns that Trump would not have guardrails on him if he were elected to a second term.

Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.

And how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had, himself.

The speech was very clear-eyed about the stakes of the election.

They know Trump won’t hold autocrats accountable because he wants to be an autocrat himself.

There was a whole section in the middle of the speech where she ticked through, one by one, a whole series of warnings about things that Trump would do to the country if he were back in the White House.

Get this, he plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator and force states to report on women’s miscarriages and abortions.

Simply put, they are out of their minds.

What else stuck out to you?

It was remarkable, the section of the speech where she talked about Gaza.

President Biden and I are working around the clock, because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done.

She did not veer too far to the left.

I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.

She managed to say things that would be appealing to both sides.

President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

It was a remarkable moment to hear the arena erupt at the end of that section, to hear her support for both the Israelis and the Palestinians reveal that kind of enthusiasm, after the party has been really ripped apart for months about how to handle the situation.

Fellow Americans, I love our country with all my heart.

She ended this speech with a paean to patriotism.

We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world.

She dove headlong into the American exceptionalism argument that is native to Republicans and to older generations of politicians, like Joe Biden.

It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done. Guided by optimism and faith to fight for this country we love. To fight —

But is not something you always hear from younger Democrats, who are a little less comfortable with some of the flag waving.

Let’s vote for it. And together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told. Thank you. God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you all.

She seemed to really be taking aim at this criticism of her, which is that she’s this radical California liberal and she can’t be trusted with the keys to the country.

I mean, that was one of the tasks that she had tonight, was to make the argument, particularly to voters in the middle, the suburban voters that used to vote for Republicans, but have been repelled by Trump and driven to Democrats in the last several years, that they can vote for her without worrying that she’s some kind of Bernie Sanders acolyte.

And some of that is based on the way she ran her last presidential campaign. Some of it, frankly, is because she’s a Black woman from California. And that the voters who will determine this election are voters in less diverse states, for the most part.

So Reid stepping back here, it feels worth remembering just where we were at the end of the Republican National Convention that was just over a month ago. Things couldn’t have felt more different. The GOP was on top of the world, while the Democrats were in disarray over Biden’s refusal to leave the race.

And now here we are. And it feels like things couldn’t be better for the Democrats. At least that’s the feeling I’m having coming out of this convention.

I mean, the whole race has turned upside down from where it was when we left Milwaukee. And Democrats are upbeat. They are confident. It is a party that is remarkably united behind their candidate.

But you have to remember, this election will be very close. It is, indeed, a game of inches in the key battleground states. And what she was trying to do was to present herself as someone who can be trusted as commander in chief to win over the tiny slices of the electorate that will determine the winner in places like Wisconsin, and Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona.

And those are the states that will determine the election. And they have made a calculated decision that those voters needed to see her as a commander in chief, something they had not seen from her before. And we will see in the coming days and weeks whether she’s accomplished that in a way that brings enough of those people on board for her to win a term as president.

Reid, thank you.

Thank you, Sabrina. [WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

Here’s what else you should know today. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed Arizona Republicans, for now, to impose tougher voting requirements, including a new rule that people registering to vote there before the coming election must show proof of citizenship.

As a result, Arizonans newly registering to vote for this year’s presidential election must provide copies of one of several documents, such as a birth certificate or a passport, in order to prove that they are US citizens. Democrats have denounced the new rule as an attempt to prevent legal immigrants from voting.

And US Health officials have approved the latest slate of annual COVID vaccines, clearing the way for Americans six months and older to receive updated shots in the coming days. The approvals come amid a prolonged surge of COVID infections, which have risen all summer.

Remember to catch a new episode of “The Interview” right here tomorrow. This week, Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Jenna Ortega, the star of the Netflix series “Wednesday,” and the new “Bettlejuice” sequel, about her head-spinning success over the past few years.

One day I just I woke up in somebody else’s shoes. I felt like I had entered somebody else’s life. And I didn’t know how to get back to mine.

Today’s episode was produced by Lynsea Garrison, Rob Szypko, Jessica Cheung, Asthaa Chaturvedi, and Shannon Lin. It was edited by Rachel Quester, contains original music by Rowan Niemisto, Dan Powell, Diane Wong, and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

[THEME MUSIC]

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you on Monday.

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Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein

Produced by Lynsea Garrison Rob Szypko Jessica Cheung Asthaa Chaturvedi and Shannon Lin

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Original music by Rowan Niemisto Marion Lozano Dan Powell and Diane Wong

Engineered by Chris Wood

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Last night, at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in U.S. history to do so.

Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein, who cover politics for The Times, discuss the story this convention told about Ms. Harris — and whether that story could be enough to win the presidential election.

On today’s episode

Astead W. Herndon , a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “ The Run-Up ” for The New York Times.

Reid J. Epstein , who covers politics for The New York Times.

Background reading

Kamala Harris promised to chart a “new way forward” as she accepted the nomination.

“The Run-Up”: It’s her party now. What’s different?

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Michael Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson, Nina Lassam and Nick Pitman.

Astead W. Herndon is a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up.” More about Astead W. Herndon

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

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