Women’s Electoral Participation Surpasses Representation Amid Calls for Reservation and Economic Inclusion

Recent elections in five Indian states saw women voting in higher numbers than men, yet women constitute less than 13.6% of elected legislators, highlighting a persistent gap between electoral participation and legislative representation. The 2023 Women's Reservation Bill aims to reserve one-third of legislative seats for women, addressing this structural imbalance. However, experts emphasize that political presence alone may not ensure gender equity without increased economic participation, as women's workforce involvement remains low, limiting leadership pipelines despite policy efforts encouraging female entrepreneurship.