Opinion

Affirmative Action on Gender Equity 

is the Most Urgent Task 

Since the March of 2017, I have been deligently working on creating a document encapsulating all that I’ve learned while running campaigns to garner women support in politics. Among other things the document aims to chart practical measures to chip away at the barriers that keep women away. It underlines the need to promote parity in the party's internal structures, include equal representation at party events and conferences, appoint women and men equally to party decision-making positions, provide women members with a platform to voice their questions and place these issues onto the policy agenda at the highest levels of party leadership. 

Additionally, this document which can serve as a manual, aims to build discussion platforms to allow women to create networks with other women leaders and their supporters. The challenge is two-fold: 1. sustain our own engagement with the political process on basic gender sensitisation towards a fundamental transformation over time in thought, action and policy. 2. Bring about reforms in the political process that will best suit women as obviously the rules of the game are written by men and are therefore purely men-friendly.

Fundamentally, I believe that the need for more women in political leadership is the most urgent task in our efforts to bring about gender equity. Having spent my journalism career in writing stories dealing with women and communities, I can attest that placing women in leadership positions on development programming assures that resources are allocated fairly and effectively. Why? There is enough evidence that shows female leaders are compassionate and empathetic, more open and inclusive. Though this may not be true of all women, modern ideas of transformative leadership are more in line with qualities women generally share: empathy, inclusiveness and an open negotiation style. Women bring the skills, different perspectives and structural and cultural difference to drive effective solutions.

That's why it is important to keep pushing forward. Fairness and equity are admirable goals in themselves. And women have consistently proven that they are able to benefit policy in important ways. But having more female leaders -- from politics to the boardroom -- is important simply because having female leaders changes the norms about who can lead and what qualities are necessary in leadership and breaking down cultural and structural barriers.

The Goa Women Leaders' Round-Table held recently was a continued effort towards the objective of bringing more women in politics and public space, in decision making roles and powerful positions. The round table drew attention on how women’s rights issues can become more visible on political agendas. Discussions started off by highlighting the personal experiences, both positive and negative, how to actively promote gender equality and women’s rights issues at all levels and to avoid compartmentalizing them in women’s departments. Engaging men to build consensus for women rights issues to be seen as issues affecting society’s wellbeing at large was seen as an important means of achieving this.

It was felt that gender balance in politics, however, can only be achieved if men work side by side with women to share the responsibility in breaking harmful cultural norms and practices, as well as the institutional, structural and legal barriers that hinder women’s equal and influential political participation.  The round table thus called for proactive work by male champions, in partnership with women, is necessary to establish an environment that empowers women’s political participation at all levels of decision-making.

Demonstration effect or a process that encourages more women to get involved in politics by seeing other women win elections was suggested as an alternative method to increase participation of women as more women are elected, more women are also likely to consider entering politics. At present, not enough women are becoming candidates. Women are also much less likely to be encouraged by others to run, due to a culture that sees politics as a ‘man’s field.’ So the onus lies in making political career more attractive and welcoming to women. As such, the need to urge women who are feeling stuck, alone, and are serious about being part of a larger movement of bringing about change to consider joining politics, was felt.

We have neglected the need for widespread continuing dialogues to enable women across the board to reflect on their traditional roles by wrongly assuming that women agree with and want gender equality because they are women. Women know their situation best, they should participate equally with men to have their perspective effectively incorporated at all levels of decision-making. India's Gender Development Index has been disappointing with regards to gender equality rankings, despite fairly rapid rates of economic growth. Therefore the round table served as a call for affirmative action and highlighted a clear need for policy initiatives for advancement of women and to place women issues in the main political discourse as a priority.

The round table participants opined that more concerted efforts at local and national levels, and by both the public and private sector are needed to bring women to parity with men. Increasing representation of women in the public spheres is important and can be attained through affirmative action. Thus the roundtable of 50 women leaders from across Goa and a five member delegation from across the country recognised the need for a strong movement to press for affirmative action on gender parity in all spheres of activities.