Despite strides in women’s representation in powerful roles, a surprising number of people

across the world still don’t trust women to lead effectively. These biases are deep-seated –
and may be difficult to change. Political trust thus functions as the glue that keeps the system
together and as the oil that lubricates the policy machine. Mistrust, or rather political
scepticism, plays an equally important role in representative democracy. Critical citizens are
more likely to engage in political activities and to keep office-holders accountable. When
mistrust turns into widespread distrust and cynicism, then the quality of democratic
representation itself may change.” Exploring these themes through a gendered lens is a
natural first step for identifying subgroup differences and more broadly testing equity of
interpretations. Gender is something that everybody experiences, in almost all spheres of life.
Social role theory explains how we are socialised into roles and behaviors based on our
perceived genders. These roles are diffuse as well as specific, and impact personality traits,
skill development and career choice, and also how politics is considered. In political systems,
women are less represented because men are socialised into having characteristics we
associate with politicians and leaders. Women are purported to have less political knowledge
than men, and to be less interested in politics. However, it has been shown that this is a
function of how we ask the question: “Women say that they are less interested in politics than
men, although this gap is reversed when they are asked how interested they are in specific
policy areas such as education or health. Long excluded from traditional power structures,
women lead differently than men. Restricted access to resources has made ingenuity a matter
of survival for many; frustration with impenetrable oligarchies and inherited bureaucracies
has instilled the value of transparency and creative, practical thinking in others. Women have
been forced to operate from outside closed networks, which means they've had to adapt by
creating their own worlds; they've learned to unite peripheral, disenfranchised communities
into collectively organized and governed microcosms. A majority of Americans (57%) think
men and women in top positions in business and politics are basically different when it comes
to their leadership styles; 43% say they are basically the same.

Among those who see a difference between men and women in this regard, most (62%) don’t
think either gender is better than the other; 22% say women have a better approach and 15%
say men do.

Views on this differ significantly by gender and party. Women are more likely than men to
see a gender gap in leadership styles (63% vs. 50%). But among both men and women who
see a difference, majorities (62%) in each group say neither gender has a better approach to
leadership. About one-in-four women (27%) say that women have a better approach than
men, while 10% say men are better. Men are more evenly divided on this: 22% say men have
a better approach, while 15% point to women.

Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are somewhat more likely than Democrats
and those who lean Democratic to say that men and women have different leadership styles
(60% vs. 54%). Among Republicans who see a difference, 25% say men have a better
approach, 10% say women do and 65% say neither is better. Democrats who say that men
and women have different leadership styles lean more heavily toward women in their
assessments: 32% say women have a better approach, 7% say men are better and 60% say
neither is better.

Among Republicans, men and women have substantially different views on this issue.
Among Republican men who see a gender gap in leadership styles, roughly a third (32%) say
men have the better approach and only 6% say women have a better approach (62% say
neither is better). Republican women are more evenly split: Among those who say men and
women are basically different, 15% say women have a better approach and 18% point to men
(67% say neither is better). Democratic men and women are more united in their views.

INDIAN SCENARIO

In Indian culture, women are seen with respect and respect but still, there is a difference
between a woman and man due to physical reasons which is natural and it can also be called a
natural gender distinction, but by society women and The gap in gender differences between
men is very deep and weakening the society. It is equally important for men to win the
structure of a society, as same for women. But it is due to some so-called people of the
society that men are more dominant in society considering women as second-class citizens.

There are some other reasons a which create a distrust in women and apparently also promote
gender discrimination in politics -

1. Religious reason: India is a country equipped with many religions. Every religion has its

own different beliefs. Religious is the main reason for gender discrimination. Because of

the patriarchal system in the society, the gap of gender discrimination between women

and men has arisen. Women are underestimated. Men believe that women should stay

within the boundary of the house, due to religious reasons, women have to face gender

discrimination and they are unable to enter politics.

2. Social reason: The famous philosopher Aristotle says that a man who is a social animal

and who does not live according to the rules of society is either a deity or an animal. The

society has been trying to impose various types of restrictions on women such as practice,

child marriage, widow life, maid service, dynasty tradition, estranged wealth, and

illiteracy are some of the important factors that prevent the participation of women in

politics. And promote gender discrimination.

3. Commercial reason: It is no wonder that the work of women and men has been different

since ancient times due to the gender differences prevalent in society. Women have to

depend on a man of the family for financial help, due to which they are dissatisfied in

taking decisions of every kind, big and small. Women from the family have to face

gender discrimination. Due to being economically weak, even today women are not

allowed to enter politics, whereas men are able to take decisions on their own, due to

which men are more and women less in Indian politics.

4. Political reasons: The Indian constitution has given constitutionally many rights to a

woman considered weak in the court. According to which women will not be

discriminated on the basis of caste, religion, descent, place of birth, and will be

considered equal. But some parties of Indian politics do not invite women to enter politics

because maledominated society and politics view women with gender discrimination and

on the other hand men believe that if women enter politics then they should abdicate,

therefore, due to Indian politics being male-dominated, there is a gender bias in politics.

5. Other reason: It is often seen that women are looked down upon due to gender

differences, female feticide after sex test, beaten up in the family, they are deprived of

education by understanding the money which is due to them mentally. Weak and afraid of

doing risky work, while men are not afraid to take the risk. This can also be a reason for

gender discrimination in Indian politics.

To combat gender inequality in politics, the Indian government has established
reservations for seats in local governments. Indian society is used to seeing women in the
same way. Women who are out of the family, whether they are working or politicians of
any party, are not getting the respect they deserve. In Indian politics, it is common for
women to comment on caste, so women face mental violence. It is because of the
discrimination between women and men that women are prevented from entering politics
in their home. At the caste level, no senior female politician is mocked as much as Dalit
Bahujan women. Issues related to women, One reason is that, except for certain parties,
women are not seen as vote banks. It is believed that women vote according to the men of
the household. That is why some Indian male political parties do not want women to
enter politics. Improving gender discrimination in Indian politics without reservation is
extremely difficult. Most political parties are of a male-centric mindset, hesitant to create
female candidates. The participation of women in the legislative and executive parts of
the government is nil. It is worth considering at what level will the reservation change?
The change that has come from the reservation given in government jobs was not possible
without reservation. There will also be a drastic change in the political reservation given
to women. All kinds of discrimination or inequalities will continue in the society along
with reservation as well as the fundamental rights given in the constitution, but real
change is possible only when men change their thinking and a kind of humanity, equal
treatment of men and women. Start doing it and not think of it as their subordinate.
Participation as a Proxy Candidate:

There have been evidences that due to reservation policy, certain women got elected into
the setup, but they acted merely as the mouthpiece of the their make family members.
This indicates that there is a possibility of on-roll women participation to be higher than
what it actually exists on ground. Awareness programs and increase in female education
is now taking care of such happenings and women active participation is on an increase.
Still there is a need to record data at a more micro level so that women who only act as a
proxy can be identified (MD Sahahuddin Mondal, 2015)

Measurement of Decision making Initiatives:

The quantitative data of political participation of women at local level is available but the
qualitative data on the aspects of their active participation inchading the utilization of the
Decision-making functionality provided to them is not being quantified property.
Although the legishture has enabled their huge presence into the state of affairs, but their
valable essence into the system is yet to be established at most of the places. The data on
their sensitization about their rights and as usage is still missing. Efforts can be made to
capture the performance of women in debates, initiative in brining legislation and
participation in other 10 aspects of the democratic process. (MD Sahabuddin Mondal,
2015)(Ambedkar).

Socio-cultural factor:

There is a conventional belief that, girls are created to require care of youngsters and do
room works than taking part outside home activity. Hence, there's division of works
between men and ladies, which suggests home activities ar belongs to girls and outdoors
home activities are belongs to men girls are weighed down with completely different
home activities like preparation, take caring children, laundry and then on These all
activities create girls busy within the home and impede their involvement within the
politics of the country. Culturally, there's a belief that girls are imagined to be diode
however to not lead, after all stereotypical notions conceming girls represent major
barriers, social perception concerning leadership ability of ladies, women's back of self-
assertiveness is a few barriers that hinder the participation of ladies during this regard
ancient attitudes towards gender equality milence women's advancement in political
participation. most significantly within the country girls are thought about subordinate to
men and second category members voters each within the family and within the society
particularly in most components of rural areas" (Shimelis Kassu, 2015)

Religious factor:

Region is another important source of cultural beliefs in most countries. Arguments about
women's mferiority to men are present across all dominant religions, and religion has
long been used to exclude women from aspects of social political, or religious life around
the world. In India the major religion is Hinduism, the other minority religions are Islam
and Christianity.
Hindu people mostly not allow women to lead as a head. They consider women are
subjected to men. In a country like India this is very common among people but now a
days the time has changed, women began to lead political parties. Several states currently
have women Chief Ministers and ministers, chairperson for more years etc. (Shimelis
Kassa, 2015).
To secure women's rightful place in society and to enable them to decide their own
destiny and for the growth of genuine and sustainable democracy, women's participation
in politics is essential. This will not only uplift their personality but will open the way for
their social and economic empowerment. Their participation in public life will solve
many problems of society.