Social and Gender Biases: A Legal Study with Special Reference to Deviation in Women's Leadership in Panchayats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53724/ambition/v10n1.05Keywords:
Panchayati Raj, women’s leadership, gender bias, social justice, legal study, patriarchy, reservation, empowerment, rural India, gender equality, policy-making, women's participation, social barriersAbstract
This research paper explores the social and gender biases that influence women's leadership in the Panchayati Raj system of rural India. The objective of the study is to understand how traditional social structures and gender-based perceptions affect the role, decision-making power, and autonomy of women representatives. The research analyzes how women's leadership is impacted by social norms, patriarchal structures, and legal challenges, and examines the ways in which these biases challenge female leadership in panchayats, as well as the conditions under which women are able to overcome these barriers and play active and influential roles.
Although constitutional provisions have ensured reservation for women in panchayats and provided them with opportunities for leadership, in practice, their leadership is often recognized only in a formal sense. The study attempts a critical analysis of legal provisions to understand how social attitudes and gender-based prejudices hinder the effective implementation of women’s leadership.
The study’s findings highlight the need for legal and social reforms to strengthen gender equality within the panchayat system.
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