Author: Dr. Anita Meena
Abstract: Women’s participation in politics is an essential dimension of democratic governance, political equality and inclusive development. Over the past few decades, women’s political participation has expanded from voting and grassroots involvement to electoral leadership, legislative representation, policy-making and digital political engagement. This chapter examines the emerging trends, continuing challenges and new perspectives concerning women in politics, with particular reference to India. It discusses women’s representation in elected institutions, the growing significance of grassroots leadership, the role of political parties, and the increasing use of digital platforms for political communication and mobilisation. At the same time, women continue to face structural barriers such as patriarchy, gender stereotypes, unequal access to political resources, financial constraints, political violence, media bias, family responsibilities and online harassment. The chapter also highlights the importance of intersectionality, recognising that women’s political experiences differ according to caste, class, region, education and socio-economic background. New research perspectives, including feminist approaches, intersectional analysis, digital research methods, comparative studies and mixed-method research, can provide a deeper understanding of women’s political agency and leadership. The chapter concludes that meaningful political empowerment requires not merely numerical representation but also substantive participation, institutional support, leadership opportunities and an enabling political environment.
