Gender and Governance.

Let’s start with understanding governance, it refers to the process of decision making and implementation of rules, policies and actions within an organization, community, or society to achieve common goals and address concerns.

It encompasses the structure, processes, and mechanisms through which authority and power are exercised and managed. These decisions have a huge impact on the ways in which women and men lead their lives, on the rules they are expected to abide by and on the structures that determined where and how they work and live. Gender and Governance is all about the participation of women, men and even other genders in decision making structures.

Women face various challenges and obstacles in gender and governance, which hinder their full participation and representation in decision-making processes.

Women are often underrepresented in political leadership positions, government bodies, corporate boards, and other governance institutions. This lack of representation limits their influence over decision-making processes and policies. Governance structures and processes may lack gender-sensitive policies, practices, and mechanisms for addressing the specific needs and priorities of women, resulting in inequitable outcomes. Deep-rooted cultural norms, traditions, and institutional barriers may perpetuate gender inequalities and hinder women's advancement in governance, reinforcing existing power imbalances and hierarchies.  Gender biases and stereotypes can also affect how women's contributions are perceived and valued in governance settings. Discriminatory attitudes and practices may limit women's access to opportunities for advancement and leadership roles.

Women may encounter barriers to political participation, such as limited access to education, financial resources, and networks, as well as cultural norms and social expectations that discourage women from engaging in public affairs. Women in governance often face gender-based violence, harassment, and intimidation, both online and offline, which can undermine their safety, well-being, and ability to perform their duties effectively. Women may have less access to resources, such as funding, training, information, and support networks, which are essential for effective participation in governance processes and decision-making.

Women's concerns and perspectives may be marginalized or overlooked in governance agendas and policies, leading to the neglect of critical issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. Governance structures and processes may lack gender-sensitive policies, practices, and mechanisms for addressing the specific needs and priorities of women, results in inequitable outcomes. Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. At the beginning of the 18th century, women’s suffrage began for right of women to vote in elections. Some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vote, increasing the number of those parties' potential constituencies.

National and international organizations formed to coordinate efforts towards women voting, especially the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (founded in 1904 in Berlin, Germany).

Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffrage was in effect during the Age of Liberty (1718–1772), as well as in Revolutionary and early-independence New Jersey (1776–1807).

Addressing gender inequality in governance involves implementing various solutions,

1. Equal Representation: Encouraging and supporting women's participation in decision-making bodies through policies like quotas or affirmative action.

2. Education and Awareness: Promoting gender equality through education, training, and awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and biases.

3. Legislative Reforms: Enacting laws that promote gender equality, protect women's rights, and prohibit discrimination in political participation and leadership positions.

4. Supportive Policies: Implementing family-friendly policies such as parental leave, affordable childcare, and flexible working arrangements to enable women to balance their caregiving responsibilities with political careers.

5. Capacity Building: Providing training and mentorship programs to develop women's leadership skills and confidence in political settings.

6. Economic Empowerment: Addressing economic barriers that hinder women's participation in governance by promoting women's economic empowerment and access to resources.

7. Institutional Changes: Reforming institutional practices and cultures to eliminate gender biases and promote inclusivity in decision-making processes.

8. Engaging Men and Boys: Encouraging men and boys to become allies in the fight for gender equality and challenging traditional gender roles and norms.

Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off. Women make up half of every country's population and should rightfully have equal participation in decision-making systems.

Higher levels of women’s political participation are associated with lower risk of civil war and reduced likelihood of state-perpetrated political violence — fewer killings, forced disappearances, torture and political imprisonment.  When women are elected to political offices, they are more likely to be held accountable by their constituencies, which leads to responsive and transparent governance. Lived experiences give women unique perspectives on gendered issues such as domestic violence, reproductive rights and equal pay. Women in leadership positions break down stereotypes and change social norms and perceptions of female leaders.

The pursuit of gender equality in politics isn't merely an ethical obligation — it's a foundational requirement for a prosperous, balanced and inclusive future for us all.

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Nandana.B.G, 17, India