Elections, Gender and Governance in Mauritius

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Periodical article

Title:	Elections, Gender and Governance in Mauritius
Author:	Bunwaree, Sheila
Year:	2006
Periodical:	Journal of African Elections
Volume:	5
Issue:	1
Pages:	152-175
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Mauritius
Subjects:	women parliamentarians gender inequality electoral systems Politics and Government Women's Issues
Abstract:	Politics in Mauritius remains very male dominated, a dominance facilitated by the constraints women face in entering the public sphere. The author explores the reasons for the under-representation of women in the Mauritian legislature and examines the implications for democratic governance. While the regularity and peacefulness of Mauritian elections are no dobut an asset, State legitimacy can only be strengthened and democratic governance consolidated if diverse interests and concerns are taken into consideration. Women constitute more than half the population and if their voices remain insufficiently heard democracy is malfunctioning. The author makes a strong case for electoral reform based on a gender friendly and gender sensitive proportional representation system. She concludes that more women are needed in the legislature in order to push for the emergence and consolidation of a gender inclusive developmental State. The demand for more women parliamentarians is not a mere numbers issue but a call for transformational politics, that is for equity, social justice and the betterment of the human condition. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]