Women in politics
If it comes as proposed, Bhutan will move one step forward in tightening gender disparity in national politics. This could be the result of series of sensitisation workshops carried out in Thimphu recently and the growing women influences in regional politics. Two emerging parties in the country are proposing their chiefs be women.
DMT proposed Bhutan Media Foundation chief Lily Wangchuk while DNT is trying to get UNDP staff Dorji Choden into rope. Both the proposed candidates have not come publicly to accept the offer but are likely. Choden is in better position to accept the offer considering the fact that she can get back to her job if she could not lift the part for final round of election. Lily will certainly have to risk her job to join politics since she is in public service.
Quite a few times, Bhutanese went through debate whether they can have a women prime minister in near future. It was, ironically, regarded fuzzy looking at the ineffective roles of incumbent women parliamentarians. Despite being in satisfactory number in parliament, the women failed to show their presence in politics and democracy.
In fact, in disguise, few top leaders dominate politics in South Asia. Rest put thumbprint on what these leaders decide. So is the case of Bhutan. Few leaders at the top make major decisions. Others represent number of votes a party has. Unless this changes, gender equality will not improve and participatory democracy will not flourish.
Women leadership in Bhutanese democracy will obviously improve social status of women in society. For centuries, females are inferior gender in Bhutan. They have been the victim of sexual exploitation including night hunting and polygamy. Their only role is at kitchen and rearing children. The efforts of Queen Mothers to fight against these injustices resulted only improving their portfolio in social service.
The attempt made by DMT and DNT to bring in women in leadership is appreciable. Their presence will surely improve public trust in political leaders and family environment in Bhutanese society. Experiments have shown women have better deal with economic governance and corrupt practices. These are very important factors in stabilising the fledging democracy in Bhutan.