Report Launching Message
We are pleased to announce the launch of the report on Women Voting Patters after the 25th of January Revolution which is part of our work with the Arab Forum for Citizenship in Transition.
This analytical report focuses on women’s political participation and voting patterns following the January 25, 2011 revolution. It examines motivations of urban and rural women to vote; how women think of political parties and if they have a role in advancing their status; how women votes are mobilized in urban and rural settings; and how political cultural patriarchy affects their participation, taking into account the social and economic challenges. It also considers the the challenges facing women candidates for parliament and local councils.
The study presented a number of findings, most importantly:
Women’s motives for voting vary between rural and urban areas, though constituents’ choices regarding voting place and choice of candidate are predominantly determined by making economic and social calculations on what benefits would be gained in return;
There is a wide negative view on the role of political parties who concentrate most of their energy in reaching and maintaining power, rather than serving the constituents, particularly women. This is due in part to political parties’ lack of general understanding of the true purpose of what a political party ought to do and how it should focus on presenting and implementing political, economic, and social programs.
Political parties lack of outreach to women and the misconception that “women do not vote for women” need to be reconsidered, as these contentions proved to have no merits and were based on simplified generalizations: How would women vote for women if there are no women in the political parties running for elections? Even if women run for election, how can they could inform the masses if political parties lack outreach? And how would women voters vote for a woman if the candidate does not voice women’s needs and aspirations?
It is important for political parties to integrate women voters in the pre- and post-phases of electoral process—which we know as representative democracy—as active citizens who have influence in political processes.
More important, the study emphasizes the importance of claiming “ownership” of the electoral process by women through organizing themselves in leagues that work on building bridges with women groups, political parties and governmental institutions. The leagues main mandate should be a continuous voters’ education process through different means.
More findings and a list of policy recommendations to decision makers, political parties, civil society groups, and the media could be found on the third section of this report (Findings and Policy Recommendations).
The study draws its analysis, findings, and policy recommendations from empirical research. The research team organized focus group discussions in five governorates (Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Mansoura, and Minya) and conducted several interviews with men and women political and civil society leaders, and former presidential candidates.
