FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

ESSAY COMPETITION ON
ELECTIONS
WHY SHOULD WOMEN TAKE
PART IN ELECTIONS?

NAME: NEHA DEVI SHARMA

ID#: A00218188
Why should women take part in elections?
According to Kapur (2019), there has been an increase in the number of women participating in
politics as a result of developments and the onset of globalization. As a result of their
involvement in politics, women are better able to comprehend the issues and obstacles that must
be overcome for the nation to advance. Women must have the necessary skills and abilities if
they are to play a significant role in political participation. The most crucial factor is that they
must be knowledgeable about the tactics and methods used to advance community and societal
wellbeing. The main areas that have been taken into account in this essay include; meaning and
importance of political participation, the role played by women in politics, as well as suggestions
for empowering women.

To begin with, democracy is applicable to everyone equally. All citizens, regardless of their
backgrounds or categories, are granted a set of rights that allow them to effectively contribute to
the development of the country. Women have been marginalized in many fields, and they face
prejudice in every society. Compared to wealthy upper caste families, discrimination against
women is more prevalent in the economically underprivileged segments of society. Women are
also not allowed to participate in politics. For women to play their part in politics effectively,
they must raise awareness and provide information about a variety of topics. This entails making
wise decisions, analyzing the areas in the regions that require improvement, and exerting their
best efforts to advance the wellbeing of the communities and the country.

In addition, there are three factors that can be taken into account when discussing women's
political participation. These include their ability to vote, participate in the election of
representatives, and participate in decision-making. The women must have certain skills and
abilities in order to put these aspects into practice in an appropriate way. Even though some of
the women in politics may not have advanced degrees, it is crucial for them to stay informed
about significant issues. In this case, addressing the societal issues of unemployment, illiteracy,
and poverty is crucial. People, especially those from the socioeconomically disadvantaged and
impoverished segments of society, must be given the tools they need to pursue better
employment opportunities.

Furthermore, Kapur (2019), discusses that women do not generally receive the same treatment as
men across the nation. Within the home and in public settings, they are regarded as having a
lower status than men. The disadvantaged, marginalized, and socioeconomically underdeveloped
segments of society are more clearly illustrative of this inequality. Giving women and girls equal
treatment and preventing discrimination against them is, therefore, one of the key goals of
women's political participation. Their desire to reduce the frequency of crimes and violent acts
against women is another factor that has influenced their political participation. They have
experienced a variety of criminal and violent acts across the nation, including acid attacks, sexual
harassment, rape, and other forms of abuse that have diminished their standing in society.
Additionally, it is crucial to concentrate on certain factors when promoting the political
participation of women, such as giving women equal status, providing for their rights and
opportunities, in particular to improve their livelihood opportunities, such as providing for their
education and encouraging them to participate within the employment settings, where they
should be able to make their own decisions and effectively carry out various tasks and etc. In
Fiji, policies and plans are being developed to let them go out and take part in a range of jobs and
activities. The social, religious, cultural, economic, and political spheres are among them.
Women must keep up positive relations with their family members in order to obtain
opportunities for empowerment and to secure their support. Having family support is essential
when undertaking any tasks or activities. This is crucial, especially in rural areas where girls and
women face discrimination and aren't encouraged to pursue an education or engage in other tasks
and activities. They are kept inside the house and given training in caring for the home.

Finally, it is advised that the primary goal of supporting opportunities for women be to increase
their political participation and empowerment. The following has been said about them: Women
struggle to obtain opportunities for empowerment and improve their ability to support
themselves. These women primarily come from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups. In the
political sphere, it is widely believed that when women participate in political, social, cultural,
economic, and other spheres, it will not only effectively contribute to their empowerment but
also to the advancement of the neighborhood and the entire country. Therefore, it is crucial to
develop policies that would give women from rural and remote communities access to
opportunities for empowerment. It is critical to inspire and motivate women in order for them to
achieve the goal of political participation and empowerment.

In conclusion, the movement that was started to support women's empowerment has undergone a
significant change. It is acknowledged that women are increasingly becoming political forces on
both the national and international levels. Women's political participation needs to be
strengthened. The benefits of women participating in politics include their ability to improve not
only their own lives but also the welfare of their families and communities. It's crucial to focus
on key factors if you want to encourage women's empowerment opportunities. They should be
encouraged to participate in various employment opportunities. These include education and
training programs, the reduction of various criminal and violent acts, the provision of equal
rights and opportunities to them, and the elimination of discrimination against them based on
caste, creed, race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic background.

REFERENCE
Kapur, R. (2019). The Role of Women in the Political Sphere.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330984828_The_Role_of_Women_in_the_Poli
tical_Sphere