Answer:

Introduction:

Despite significant advancements in women’s literacy and workforce participation in India, their representation in electoral politics and Parliament remains conspicuously low. This underrepresentation is a complex issue, stemming from various societal, structural, and political barriers that collectively hinder women’s political engagement.

Body:

Societal and Cultural Norms

• Societal and cultural norms play a significant role in shaping perceptions around gender roles, often relegating women to the domestic sphere and viewing politics as a male bastion. 
• Despite a general acknowledgment that women and men make equally good political leaders, the societal bias against women in politics persists. 
• This is reflected in the less than a tenth of candidates being women in recent federal and state elections, underscoring the deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes that discourage women from entering politics​​.

Structural Barriers

• The political landscape in India is marked by significant structural barriers that disproportionately affect women. 
• These include the role of money in politics, an unhealthy political environment, and infrastructural issues such as a lack of clean toilets and safe accommodation for women during fieldwork. 
• Such barriers not only deter women from participating but also reflect the gendered challenges within the political system, where women candidates are often seen as proxies for their male relatives​​.

Political Dynamics and Reservation Policies

• While reservations for women in local government have significantly improved their representation at the grassroots level, these gains have not been mirrored in higher political offices. 
• The introduction of reservations led to an increase in women’s participation from 4-5% to 25-40% in local governance. 
• However, the issue of women serving as proxies for male family members and the lack of adequate training and support highlight the challenges that persist in fully leveraging reservation policies for empowering women in politics​​.

Socio-Economic Factors

• Socio-economic class is a critical determinant of women’s participation in politics, with women from higher social and economic backgrounds being more active. 
• This disparity is influenced by patriarchal mindsets and the burden of household responsibilities, which limit women’s autonomy and engagement in political activities. 
• The reality that women’s representation in the Lok Sabha has improved only marginally from 5% in the first Lok Sabha to 14% in the 17th Lok Sabha further illustrates the socio-economic barriers to women’s political participation​​.

Political Parties and Representation

• Political parties play a pivotal role in promoting or hindering gender equality in politics. 
• Despite some efforts to increase women’s participation, such as the establishment of women’s wings and advocacy for greater representation, women’s membership and leadership roles within major political parties remain low. 
• The existence of women-led political parties and the call for increased reservation in Parliament underscore the ongoing struggle for gender parity in the political arena​​.

Conclusion:

The journey toward equal representation in Indian politics is fraught with challenges that require a multifaceted approach to overcome. Addressing societal attitudes, structural challenges, and the political framework is essential for empowering women and ensuring their full participation in the democratic process. Enhancing women’s political participation is not only a matter of achieving gender equality but also crucial for the holistic development of democracy in India. Policies aimed at empowering women, alongside societal change in gender perceptions, are vital steps toward this goal.