Power and Representation: Reservation for Women in India

Recent developments in feminist politics in India indicate growing concern with under-representation of women in elected and decision-making bodies, as well as with the view that some form of reservation or affirmative action is needed to redress existing gender imbalances. The understanding of affirmative action or, in the Indian case, reservation, includes notions such as equality of opportunity, social justice, positive or protective discrimination, compensatory discrimination, and so on. Arguments for reservation have been advanced because gender balanced representation is expected to alter development priorities, perspectives, and concerns. The current demand for parliamentary representation of women is built around several arguments and equal opportunity for participation in decision-making is one of them. Women's interests and priorities are said to be neglected in a male dominated parliament and their presence is expected to make a qualitative difference in increasing the empathy for their concerns. These arguments are countered by those who do not see women as a collectivity or who consider it is not only women who can best represent women's interests. Linking reservation questions to equal opportunity and social justice for women as a disadvantaged group has given rise to an inconclusive debate on the criteria for determining backwardness. Does it open the door to equal opportunity; does it realize social justice, and does it alter power relations? Many of these dilemmas apparent in the reservation debate have profound implications for political theory and practice and for the attempts by the women's movement to give a new meaning and dimension to the slogan “political empowerment of women.”