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Women's contested politics of presence : learning from the experiences of Pakistani women parliamentarians
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Syed, Shaheen Ashraf Shah (2013) Women's contested politics of presence : learning from the experiences of Pakistani women parliamentarians. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2690191~S1
Abstract
This study provides a case study of women’s political representation in the National
Parliament of Pakistan, where a particular form of the quota approach has been adapted
in a highly gendered political context. By examining the experiences of Pakistani
women parliamentarians, this thesis contributes to key academic literature on gender
quotas and political representation that has received a considerable attention from
feminist scholars. The aim of this thesis is to explore the extent to which women’s
formal representation is translated into substantive change for women.
This is an empirical case study, primarily based on qualitative analyses of face-to-face
in-depth semi-structured interviews of 20 women parliamentarians (out of 76) and
proceedings of the parliament of the last three years (2008-11). By adapting Anne
Phillips’s (1995) The Politics of Presence in entirely new and novel way, one of the
major contributions this study claims to make to the theoretical literature is to
analytically examine the effects of quotas from various aspects of political
representation: descriptive, substantive and symbolic representation and from a broader
perspectives than has hitherto been seen. It also addresses a major gap in the literature
on the reasons why some quota women act more often than others in legislatures, and
what factors contribute to the silence and suppression of Pakistani women leaders.
It is argued that women’s presence in the political spheres is important, but that it is
vital to take the particular context into account when judging whether women can and
do act for women. This thesis shows that representation depends on various factors
which can positively or negatively contribute towards substantive change. It also
demonstrates that quotas may challenge existing gender dynamics and have various
effects on women’s representation within and outside parliament. However, some
gender and human rights issues may be difficult to tackle, especially those challenging
the powerful feudal and tribal political elite (mainly men).
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman J Political Science > JQ Political institutions (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Women legislators -- Pakistan, Women -- Political activity -- Pakistan, Women politicians -- Pakistan | ||||
Official Date: | June 2013 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of Sociology | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Mukta, Parita; Charles, Nickie | ||||
Sponsors: | Pakistan. Higher Education Commission (HEC) | ||||
Extent: | x, 351 leaves : charts. | ||||
Language: | eng |
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