FACTORS AFFECTING THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, THE CASE OF ARADA SUB-CITY WOREDA 07 COUNCIL ADDIS-ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Globally women’s political participation becomes an important measure of women status in most of the world counties. Accordingly, nowadays, the participation of women in politics has got significant attention across the world. However, women remain underrepresented in political position and decision-making. In line with this, the purpose of this study was to assess the factors that affect women political participation, specifically in woreda 07 counsel. Descriptive research design was employed. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources and questionnaires and interview was the main instruments of data collection. The finding of the study shows that different factors such as; education, occupation, leadership experience, self confidence, moral and belief, society perception, culture, and family responsibility and influence of previous regime were the main determining factors of women’s political participation, even though, their influence unlike most literatures is low. The study further revealed that recently things are getting good for women’s to participate in politics if efforts are made on awareness creation, and the opportunity of political participation allow women to address their basic problems and ensures the openness, fight against political commitment, political leadership, and political responsiveness of the existing districts. As a matter of fact, globally the number of women is larger than men’s, however their participation in decision making and political position is laggard. Hence, making women’s to participate in politics and decision making process should not be a supplementary argument, rather it is a right and necessary condition for women’s interests to be considered.