Understanding the Gender-Sensitive Political and Legislative Behaviors in Pakistan through the Lens of Feminist Theory

Abstract

Even as the numbers of women in legislative bodies in Pakistan have been boosted by gender quotas, the actual empowerment of female legislators in the main is more symbolic than real. The feminist theory and political representation theory help frame the analyses of the roles played by gender in the actualization of political power and participation within the patriarchal Pakistani society. The elevation of women in political statuses in different parts of the globe is one major sign of advance of equitable relations between the genders more so in such cultures as the Pakistani culture, which for a long time limited women in their interaction with the public domain. The issue of women’s participation in the political field is not only a question of fairness but also of the improvement of democracy qualification since democratic values presuppose the presence of a diversity of opinions and views to develop policies that meet the interests of all the segments of society. The instant study qualitatively examines the nature of gender-sensitive political behaviors by applying feminist theory and uses secondary data collected from books, and research journals for conclusions. It recommends that possible changes in the national assembly are required to happen institutionally where women empowered politically as the agency; reforms that include changes in party structures, gender-sensitive policies, and training of women and men in society to transform gender stereotypes.