The Role Of Gender And Women In Political Institutions In Africa: A Case Of Political Parties

Abstract

The democratization process in Africa opened up space for the emergence of several political parties across the continent as most countries moved from one-party rule to multi-party democracy. This tectonic shift signaled a new beginning in the political arena, and there were expectations that equal representation in the political sphere would be a by-product of the democratization process. This paper underscores the challenge of gender inequality in representative politics and as it would be expected in patriarchal societies; women shoulder the brunt of marginalization in the political arena.  It argues that despite the inclusion of gender-responsive texts in political parties’ manifestoes and constitution, the gender gap is still burgeoning. It recommends that political parties should come up with pragmatic strategies to enhance gender equality and cease to include gender texts as mere political rhetoric.