Quota Laws for Women in Politics: Implications for Feminist Practice

Authors

  • Dr. Ghazala Shoukat Postdoctoral Scholar, National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, (Centre of Excellence), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad/Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
  • Sajid Mahmood Awan Senior Research Fellow, National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.vi-i.25303

Keywords:

Quota Law, Women, Politics, Feminist Practice, Gender Quota

Abstract

This paper considers the adoption and diffusion of gender quota laws worldwide aimed at increasing the number of women holding political offices. In more than fifty countries where such laws have been enacted, this study explores the motives for their adoption, the actors, and the implications this has for feminist practice. While quotas have been able to increase women's political participation, they also bring to light other structural inequalities, including violence against women in politics and cultural resistance. This paper underlines that intersectional, context-specific strategies are imperative in realizing the full transformative potential of gender quotas. The paper also concluded that gender quotas are one important step to achieving political equality but do not eliminate problems outright. Overcoming several other barriers, such as quotas to reduce political violence and ensuring that the mechanisms are intersectionally inclusive, remains a necessary component for transformation.

Author Biography

  • Dr. Ghazala Shoukat, Postdoctoral Scholar, National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, (Centre of Excellence), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad/Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

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Published

2025-02-18

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Shoukat, G., & Awan, S. M. (2025). Quota Laws for Women in Politics: Implications for Feminist Practice. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(1), 76-83. https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.vi-i.25303