Factors hindering ‘larger’ representation of women in parliament: the case of Seychelles

Abstract

Female legislative representation in some sub-Saharan African countries surpasses that of most other countries on the Inter-Parliamentary Union's 187 country list by exceeding 20 per cent. While almost all of those African countries achieved such level of representation by implementing gender quotas, Seychelles achieved that level without gender quotas. Its female parliamentary representation, however, is far short of the 50 per cent target set for 2015 by the African Union. This study, therefore, examines the factors hindering ‘larger’ representation of women in the Seychellois parliament. It concludes that the dual burden of women, the longstanding traditional beliefs about women's role, the lukewarm commitment of political parties to nominate women, the authoritarian nature of Seychellois politics, and parliamentarians' financial contributions expected by constituents are the key variables hindering ‘larger’ female legislative representation in Seychelles.

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