Bridging the Gap: Understanding Challenges to Women’s Role Elected on Reserved Seats in Local Government Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

The study investigated the inadequate political skills of women elected on reserved seats, focusing on their failure to effectively represent women’s issues in public forums. It examined political challenges that limit their roles and efforts, using a cross-sectional research design to assess the associations between political barriers and these women’s political competencies. A sample of 231 respondents occupying reserved seats was selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection involved Likert scale-based interviews, and analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 21, with a significance level set at 0.05. Key findings revealed that several political obstacles—such as discouragement from acquiring CNICs, difficulties in voter registration, threats from extremists, and unsuitable timing and venues of party meetings—adversely impacted women’s political skills and representation. Women were often perceived as politically inexperienced, and political parties tended to prioritize male interests in decision-making processes. Economic barriers, including lack of asset ownership, inheritance rights, and access to business loans, further restricted their political participation and success. The study found a statistically significant association between women’s inadequate political skills and their limited role in public forums, with their presence in local bodies being largely symbolic. To enhance women’s political involvement, the study recommends addressing both practical and strategic gender needs, as well as implementing structural and policy changes within political parties to improve women’s participation at local and national levels.