The Unseen Rules: Politics When You're a Woman – International Edition (English)

As the IEBC selection process unfolded on television screens last week, an undeniable disparity stood out: only three women were among the eight men being considered for the role of chairperson. The usual rhetoric followed suit: “Why do we never meet the two-thirds gender rule if capable women aren’t stepping up?” But this line of inquiry grows tiresome. It’s not because women lack drive; rather, they’re acutely aware of the costs involved. Asking why fewer women participate neglects to acknowledge the challenges and hostilities they confront merely to contribute to national development. Consider Kawira Mwangaza, the pioneering female governor-elect of Meru County in 2022. She endured both impeachment and a concerted campaign aimed at discrediting her—a move sending a chilling signal to aspiring women everywhere: “Your place here is precarious.” While those holding authority assert otherwise, potential candidates openly admit reconsidering backing females due to prevailing biases. Globally speaking, similar patterns have surfaced. During Kamala Harris’ bid for U.S. president, she encountered relentless critiques targeting everything from her looks to competence, despite her impressive credentials. Within days, studies noted thousands of prejudiced reports concerning her candidacy. What strikes me profoundly is how normalized such antagonisms have become. Many seasoned female politicians detail everyday discrimination—from branding decisiveness as aggression to labeling emotionality instability—all without comparable judgment facing males. Furthermore, unprovoked remarks online further amplify prejudice. For instance, following victories by six women in Nakuru County, derogatory posts speculated on menstrual synchronicity—an example of harmful ignorance since evidence indicates superior outcomes frequently stem from female leadership. The ultimate frustration arises observing local lawmakers perpetuate these abuses. Statements demeaning a female member of parliament’s suitability for sexual assault or attributing another’s failure solely to menstruation highlight systemic devaluation based purely on physical attributes instead of intellectual capacity. Let’s make something unequivocally clear: each loss suffered by a woman politician driven away by discriminatory harassment represents not just personal defeat but collective societal decline. Absent representation at pivotal forums leads directly to flawed legislation overlooking vital demographics, insufficient funding directed towards critical areas like reproductive health services, protection measures against domestic violence, educational opportunities for girls, safe urban planning designs, and equitable recognition of informal caregiving roles centralizing community stability. Addressing pervasive misogyny transcends individual grievances—it pertains fundamentally to effective governance practices. Witnessing younger generations absorb negative messaging adds yet another layer of sorrow. Recently engaging with college students expressing interest in entering politics revealed hesitations rooted less around capability than enduring hardship. One promising youth candidly shared doubts regarding resilience amidst anticipated slanderous commentary awaiting entrants. Despite confronting compounded obstacles including familial duties, financial constraints tied to childcare responsibilities, ambitious women continue advancing nonetheless. Running campaigns, serving constituencies, persevering amid sustained mistreatment underscored beyond endurance levels speaks volumes requiring acknowledgment far exceeding mere praise alone. Action must follow words—identifying and condemning bias whenever detected irrespective of partisan affiliations held dear. Supporting electorally viable women post-victory stands paramount alongside rallying male peers to proactively combat ingrained prejudices benefiting exclusively from patriarchal structures upheld within society today. Ultimately, excluding half the populace systematically undermines democratic principles deeply entrenched across nations globally wherein women comprise majority constituents deserving equal participation rights shaping futures collectively shaped together. Syndigate.info ).