PATRIARCHY AND WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF PATRIARCHY UPON THE ELECTED WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SELECTED GAON PANCHAYAT OF NALBARI DISTRICT, ASSAM

Abstract

Equal representation of all – men and women by all other considerations – is one of the well-proclaimed objectives of democracy. Equal political rights conferred upon men and women are expected to address various structural challenges traditionally faced by the women in most of the developing countries like India. However, in countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh of South Asian region witness that women are suffering from various socio-cultural, political and economic challenges. In this context, this study aims to examine a research question: Does patriarchy have an impact upon the women representatives elected to local government bodies while performing their institutional duties and functions? The followed up question is: How does patriarchy influence the performance of the women representatives elected to local government bodies? Using qualitative approach, this study makes the needed empirical investigation and argues that gender norms and social structure have impact upon the women representatives elected to local government bodies. It draws its empirical lessons using the method of in-depth interview with the key respondents. The key respondents in this study include the women representatives elected to panchayati raj institutions, especially the Gaon Panchayat, the local government bodies in India. The researcher interviewed ten women representatives elected to Ghoga Gaon Panchayat, in the district of Nalbari, Assam. Empirical findings of the study find that women are more familiar with their day-to-day social life, especially associated to household activities such as caring children. Ongoing gender norms seem to function in the mindset of these women representatives.