Where are the women in Simbu politics

Throughout the world women are perceived to participate in politics less than men. While attention is paid to their involvement in women’s organisations and local level government in aid rhetoric women’s political participation is framed largely in terms of representation in parliament a key indicator of the United Nation’s Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM). In developing countries such as Papua New Guinea the disparity between male and female representation in parliament particularly marked with only one of one hundred and nine parliamentary seats being currently held by a female. This disparity is greatest in the Highlands region where women are yet to gain representation in Papua New Guinea’s parliament. If women’s political participation is measured in terms of their representation in national parliaments Pacific women indeed exhibit extremely low levels of political participation. Such an indicator however fails to provide a complete understanding of women’s political participation and influence. For example in the Highlands province of Simbu despite the fact that only eight women contested the Papua New Guinea 2002 National Election Simbu women were active participants in the national electoral process. Like Simbu men Simbu women participated in decision-making at the local level contributing to their residential group’s choice of National Election candidate. In addition throughout the immediate prepolling period Simbu women avidly discussed their political views and played a fundamental role in sustaining electoral campaigns. Significantly on polling day Simbu women lined up to vote. While no women contested the Kerowagi District open seat in Simbu Province Kerowagi women played a fundamental role in local electoral politicking during the Papua New Guinea 2002 National Election. Further given the blatant disjunction between external representations of women’s political participation (based upon figures of their election to parliament) and the way in which local women characterise themselves as politically active it suggested that a broader approach to gauging women’s political participation would more accurately reflect the ways in which local peoples experience the political. (excerpt)