Things that affect women’s political participation?

• Women’s political engagement beyond voting is not solely based on voting, but also includes rallies, campaigns, political affiliations, and policy advocacy.
• Only 14% of women report seeking advice from their spouses on voting decisions, indicating growing agency but still significantly lower than men’s.
• The selfempowerment hypothesis suggests rising literacy rates and employment opportunities have empowered women to vote independently.
• However, the author challenges this explanation, pointing out low women’s overall workforce participation and an imbalanced proportion of registered female voters compared to male voters.
• Largescale male migration of men could contribute to higher turnout among women in traditionally ‘backward’ states.
• Women’s voting behavior is influenced by regional, caste, and class dynamics, not just gender identity.
• Women’s preferences are often aligned with regional political movements rather than national gender-based voting trends.
• Congress has historically maintained a gender advantage, receiving more female support than male.
• The BJP has faced a gender disadvantage, with fewer women voting for the party compared to men.
• Despite targeted outreach, the BJP has historically faced a gender disadvantage, with more men than women supporting the party.
• These developments indicate that women’s electoral choices remain intertwined with broader socio-political factors.