Gender Equality in Politics: Women's Representation from International to Local Dynamics

Abstract

This study examines the role of women in politics by analyzing the underlying reasons for their exclusion, with a particular focus on local politics. As in many parts of the world, women's participation in politics in Turkey remains constrained, and gender equality in political representation is yet to be fully realized. Although women's visibility in political spheres has increased in recent years, significant disparities persist. Notably, women’s participation rates in local politics are even lower than in national politics. Within a predominantly male-dominated political arena, women remain less visible at the local level, limiting their capacity to influence the structural dynamics of local governance. Grounded in this premise, the study first explores the structural and sociopolitical challenges that hinder women’s engagement in politics. It then presents an empirical analysis of women's representation and participation in local politics using contemporary data. To contextualize these findings, the study situates Turkey’s gendered political landscape within a comparative global framework. In doing so, it seeks to elucidate the structural mechanisms that shape local political dynamics in Turkey and critically examines the marginalization of women in this sphere. Furthermore, the study analyzes the implications of the 2024 local elections for women's political representation. While the elections marked an increase in the electoral success of female candidates, the persistent structural barriers within local politics continue to restrict women’s access to political representation and participation. Despite these limitations, the study provides a detailed examination of women’s representation in the 2024 local elections, with a specific focus on metropolitan, provincial, and district mayoralties.