As a nation looking to improve its democratic ideals, two recent policy briefs from Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) lay bare a truth we have known for some time and yet often ignore: Women are present in politics, but their presence is oftentimes engineered to be ornamental rather than authoritative. Most women in politics are visible, yet powerless.
Indeed, this stems from barriers to women’s political participation; party structures, opaque nomination processes, and above all, entrenched patriarchal norms continue to keep women on the margins.
Even when they enter the arena, they are confined to “women’s wings” or reserved seats, saddled with responsibility but denied control over resources or decisions.
Then there is the issue of violence against women in politics that sustains this exclusion. Violence, whether physical intimidation, online abuse, or institutional denial, continues to be a major deterrent. For women who dare to contest elections or claim leadership, such violence aims to delegitimize and silence their voices.
We don’t need research institutes to tell us that our nation is failing women, especially when it comes to political leadership. What we continue to see is hollow inclusivity that sustains patriarchy under the guise of progress.
The way forward is not complicated. Parties must begin to dismantle patronage-driven nomination systems and open transparent pathways for women’s leadership. Laws against political harassment must be enforced so that women are not intimidated to run. The media too have a part to play and must be held accountable for gender-sensitive coverage.
Above all, women must be integrated into mainstream leadership. No longer as symbolic figures, but truly as decision-makers with authority.
Women’s empowerment requires more than seats. They demand safety, legitimacy, and power. Until women are given the authority alongside their visibility, our politics will remain incomplete and our progress compromised.
