Modernizing the Body Politic of Orthodox Societies: An Insight into the Construct and Impact of Gender-Specific Political Behaviors in Pakistan

Abstract

Even in the very recent history of the modernized communities of the world, women had been kept out of practical politics. The promotion of ideologies like liberalism, individualism, feminism helped women to actively participate in social and political order in their respective communities. It has now been established that feminization of politics increases the capacity of women in determining and devising policies and at the same time it ensures that the interests of rather marginalized segments of the society will be protected and promoted properly during the course of legislation. It is a common fact that longitudinal studies that track the career trajectories of female politicians over time provide valuable insights into the long-term challenges and enablers of women’s political advancement. Accordingly, the instant study qualitatively follows different cohorts of female politicians to examine how women’s political careers evolve, including their ability to move from local to national politics, the impact of mentorship and political networks, and the role of political parties in supporting or hindering their advancement while particularly focusing on the case of Pakistan. The incorporation of the policy recommendations offered by this study would help improving the knowledge and practice of what fosters female leadership and participation in politics and governance which in turn would create fair society where women’s political contributions would be respected across the chamber and hall.