Gender and Politics

NCERT Democratic Politics-II | Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste

Gender Religion and Caste — Chapter Overview

Social diversity in itself does not threaten democratic functioning. In fact, the political expression of social differences is both possible and often desirable in a democratic setup. In this chapter, we examine how three forms of social division — based on gender^?, religion, and caste — manifest in Indian politics. For each type, we explore the nature of the division, how it finds expression in the political arena, and whether such expressions strengthen or weaken democracy.

This part focuses on the gender division — one of the most universal yet least discussed forms of social hierarchy in political science. We examine how women's roles have historically been confined to the domestic sphere, the struggle for gender equality, and the progress made in women's political representation.

The Public-Private Division and Sexual Division of Labour

From an early age, boys and girls are socialised into believing that household tasks and child-rearing are primarily women's responsibilities. This belief creates a sexual division of labour^? in most families. Women shoulder the bulk of domestic tasks, while men take up employment and public responsibilities.

However, this separation is not as clean as it appears. In rural India, women participate in agriculture, fetch water, and gather fuel for cooking. In cities, women from lower-income households often work as domestic helpers, while those from the middle class hold jobs in offices. The reality is that the majority of women perform paid work alongside their unpaid domestic labour. Despite this double burden, women's contributions at home remain unrecognised and undervalued.

The consequence of this invisible labour is stark: although women make up half the world's population, their participation in public life — especially politics — remains minimal in most societies. For a long period, only men could vote, stand for elections, or hold public office. Gradually, women organised and demanded equal political rights, leading to major social and legal changes.

How Feminist Movements Changed Gender Roles in Politics

Women's movements around the world agitated for extending voting rights to women, improving their educational and professional opportunities, and enhancing their legal and political standing. More radical feminist movements went further, demanding equality in personal and family relationships as well.

These campaigns yielded significant results. Today, women work as scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, and professors — professions once considered unsuitable for them. In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland, women's participation in public life is remarkably high. However, in many other parts of the world, including India, the journey toward gender equality remains far from complete.

Gender Inequality in Indian Society and Politics

Despite notable progress since independence, India remains a male-dominated society. Women face multiple forms of disadvantage, discrimination, and oppression:

Interestingly, when we look at school examination results, girls often perform as well as or better than boys. The dropout rate among girls is higher not because of academic performance but because of parental reluctance to invest equally in daughters' education. Women carry a greater share of work — on average one hour more per day than men — yet much of their labour remains unpaid and therefore invisible in economic statistics.

Women's Political Representation

Issues concerning women's welfare have long been neglected in public policy. Many feminist thinkers and women's organisations have concluded that unless women hold political power themselves, their concerns will not receive adequate attention. One direct way to address this is by increasing the number of women in elected legislative bodies.

India's track record in this regard is far from encouraging. The percentage of women elected to the Lok Sabha reached 14.36 per cent for the first time only in 2019. In state assemblies, the figure is even lower — under 5 per cent. Compared to the global average, and even when measured against several developing countries in Africa and Latin America, India lags significantly behind. Government cabinets remain overwhelmingly male-dominated, even when a woman serves as Prime Minister or Chief Minister.

Reservation as a Solution

One approach to bridging this gap is to legally mandate a fair proportion of women in elected bodies. India has already implemented this at the local government level. Under the Panchayati Raj system, one-third of all seats in panchayats^? and municipalities are reserved for women. As a result, there are now over 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies across the country.

For decades, women's organisations and activists campaigned for a similar reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. In 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam^? (Women's Reservation Act, 2023) was finally passed, providing 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly.