Women’s Marginalization in Political Sphere in Jammu and Kashmir

• Women make up nearly 48% of the electorate in J&K, but their political representation remains low.
• In 2014 and 2024 elections, only 3.6% of total candidates were women, and only nine women were in the first phase.
• The political landscape is rooted in J&K’s patriarchal social structure, which views public and political life as male-dominated.
• Legal and advocacy efforts to expand women’s representation often fail to address cultural and institutional barriers.
• The National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party have historically sidelined women.
• Women’s representation in the 2020 District Development Council elections barely crossed 10%.
• There are no dedicated women-centric policies, such as reserving seats for women in legislative bodies or supporting women entrepreneurs.
• The gender gap remains significant, with 66% of women being literate compared to 84% of men.
• The absence of gender-responsive budgeting, economic empowerment initiatives, or electoral reforms contributes to the ongoing political exclusion of women.
• The absence of female voices results in policies that fail to comprehensively address gender disparities, further entrenching patriarchal norms.
• Making women’s perspectives integral to peace-building, education, healthcare, and employment will ensure their voices are heard and encourage political involvement.
• A push for political quotas, including electoral reforms and capacity-building initiatives for women, could substantially alter the status quo.
• After the dilution of Article 370 in 2019, the UT came under the scope of Central laws, including the National Policy for Empowerment of Women (2001).