Socio-Cultural Constraints to Women’s Political Participation in South Asia

Any nation’s progress depends on having equal representation of men and women in politics. Still, there are differences in the political engagement of men and women in South Asia. The effectiveness and legitimacy of women’s political participation are questioned in light of this unequal involvement. This study explores how women’s social identities are shaped by the patriarchal social structures of these countries, which also place them at the bottom of the social hierarchy and give rise to a variety of discriminatory practices. Patriarchal ideology and the prevailing views of society that confine women to the home and reserve the public sphere for men have been used to explain the low political engagement rates of women in South Asia. In addition, religious beliefs, legal and social frameworks, and cultural elements are all frequent causes of discrimination against women.