TITLE:
Socio-Cultural Factors and Women’s Representation in Political Leadership: Case Study Mbale City Councils
AUTHORS:
Fakhri Mohamed
KEYWORDS:
Socio-Cultural Factors, Women’s Representation and Political Leadership, Mbale City Councils
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.11,
November
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to establish the effect of socio-cultural factors on women’s representation in political leadership in Mbale City Councils. In this research socio-cultural factors were regarded as the independent variable, while women’s representation in political leadership was considered as the dependent variable. The study was guided by three research objectives. It employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design with both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and data was collected from 280 respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS computer software (Version 23) to generate frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Principal Component Analysis and Regression were employed to determine the model of interrelations and strength among the constructs of socio-cultural factors variable and their level of effect on women’s representation in political leadership in Mbale City Councils. Qualitative data was done through thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that socio-cultural factors significantly affect women’s representation in political leadership in Mbale City Councils. They further revealed that religion, gender relations and social classes in society have a statistically significant effect on women’s representation in political leadership in Mbale City Councils. It is concluded that socio-cultural factors have a significant effect women’s representation in political leadership in Mbale City Councils. It is therefore recommended that the governments should engage political parties to ensure that they comprise more women on their candidates list. Political parties should become the institutional vehicle through which women’s representation in political leadership is enhanced especially in facilitating their participation within party structures and over election periods. The electoral commissions and political parties need to engage women through awareness campaigns. Religious and cultural leaders should cooperate with the government and human rights officers in order to provide political freedom for women and raise more funds for independent female politicians and encourage them to fully embrace political leadership.