Dynamics of Public Administration

This study seeks to critically appraise the extent of women's participation in politics in a urban local government institution in Bangladesh, Barishal City Corporation. What is the present state of women's political participation at the Barisal City Corporation? What factors affect women's participation in the political arena in Barisal City Corporation? The study seeks to answer these questions and focuses on the issue of women's participation in the local government institution, i.e. City Corporation. Methodologically, a quantitative research strategy has been adopted in this study complemented by appropriate qualitative methods. This study reveals that the majority of respondents find that inadequate education is a barrier to women's political participation in the City Corporation. The study also sees that the patriarchal system along with institutional barriers has a negative influence on women's political participation in the City Corporation.