Intersecting Barriers: Gender, Religion and the Political Under-representation of Muslim Women in Local Governance in Bihar

Title

Intersecting Barriers: Gender, Religion and the Political Under-representation of Muslim Women in Local Governance in Bihar

Creator

Hussaini, Nilofer

Description

Womens reservation policies have substantially expanded female political participation in India, yet the representation of Muslim women continues to remain disproportionately low across levels of governance. Drawing on detailed administrative data from the 2016 and 2021 Panchayat elections in Bihar, this study examines the institutional, structural and behavioural mechanisms that shape Muslim womens political inclusion. Using a supply-side framework, the analysis formalizes two key determinants of contest entry, past co-ethnic competitiveness and demographic potential, and shows how these factors jointly influence womens decisions to contest elections. The results highlight the central role of institutional design and strategic expectations in shaping minority womens political agency, even in communities where demographic conditions appear favourable for political representation. 2026 Lokniti, Centre For The Study Of Developing Societies

Source

Studies in Indian Politics;Volume;14;Issue;1;pp.85-98

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

SAGE Publications Ltd

Subject

elections; Ethnic minorities; local government; minority politics; women and politics

Coverage

Hussaini N., Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Nagarabhavi, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India, Christ (Deemed to Be) University, Central Campus, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 23210230;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1177/23210230261429652

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034073294?origin=resultslist