WOMEN AND POLITICS: A STUDY OF THE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Abstract

While Sri Lankan women’s social, economic and health status have improved significantly in recent past, women remain under-represented in the political arena especially at local governance level. Even the women who are in the local level politics seem not to have a voice in many issues in the local level. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to examine the challenges faced by women who are in local politics, in portraying their active political role. This research was done based on the Kuruwita and Ehaliyagode pradeshiya sabaha in Rathnapura district. 17 women representatives came under the purview of the study. The semi structured interview method was used as the main data collection technique accompanied with secondary data such as research outcomes on gender and ageing and the reports of the two pradeshiya sabha. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis method. According to the findings of the study at the institutional level, influence of senior politicians, lack of opportunity to develop knowledge and personality, influence of party leadership, and violent political culture were the main challenges that they have to face. This study revealed that these challenges were further accompanied by the domestic challenges which discouraged most women in engaging politics in the local level. Mainly cultural factors play a massive role in creating barriers against women at both institutional and domestic levels. Therefore, this study recommends a massive revolution in the education sector in order to change the structured system as to how social needs are fulfilled and to form a society that respects equality and human rights.