Can digital platforms reduce barriers for women in politics?

Looking back on all of the women that I have met over the years, the oppression, lack of opportunities, and expectations that were placed upon them, all I see is strength—strength passed from mother to daughter. In today’s world, women are defining the rules of the political game and leadership. They are entering the political field as dynamic leaders, demanding and changing the politics of all domains.

Digital platforms have democratized access to political participation, enabling more women to engage actively in political spheres. Through technology, women can express themselves and engage with a relevant communication platform, thus eradicating barriers that have in the past limited women’s political engagement. This is not just a change of political power dynamics, but also a sign that the time has come for women to become masters of the future.

Many times on my way to my college in Maitighar, I used to see protests and rallies for various causes, and in the early days, most of the participants used to be men. This has changed in the last five years. Today, I see more women participants in protest rallies. This shift is perhaps due to the concerns of gender, for women are no longer mere spectators.  They are actively participating in the political and social battles for change through digital media. It is a refreshing sight to witness.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 unveiled by the World Economic Forum indicates that women occupy only 25.5 percent of parliamentary seats in the world. Nevertheless, the decreasing gap of difference is noticeable between them. Social media platforms are being used to a greater extent in narrowing this difference. According to the Pew Research Center, 61 percent of the women in the United States actively participate in politics through the use of digital platforms. Changes are being observed in Nepal as well. For instance, a survey of Nepali women in the last year (up to mid-2022) showed that 19 percent more women participated in local elections in comparison to 2017, thanks to the wide reach of digital platforms.

But there is still a long way to go for a meaningful women’s participation in politics. A survey conducted by UN Women identified that the level of rural women’s digital literacy is low, and only 37 percent of them have access to the Internet. The necessity of improving the availability of digital technologies is evident, particularly for women. If we look at these numbers, we can only conclude that despite the fact that digital media created new opportunities for women representatives in politics, more needs to be done to support greater equality in access, especially in rural areas. A profusion of women in regional and federal leadership positions gives the political process a new and promising perspective. Women leaders like Sumana Shrestha, Prakriti Koirala, Shobita Gautam, and others have proved that the use of digital technologies makes political work even more efficient. During my stay in my hometown Gulmi recently, the disparity in which most people still travel two hours to access a nearby hospital is very much real.

However, it was encouraging to discover in such areas that people do know about the kind of political activities that are conducted by leaders such as Shobita and Sumana. This means that even in the most excluded areas people are becoming more informed and politically active in the leadership processes. This on its own is evidence of the progress being made in regards to establishing political awareness all across the regions in the nation by the leaders who leveraged digital media. These women have been privileged to campaign for the change they want using social networks and other digital avenues.

Social media has also provided immense value for generating information-based political participation. Specifically, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah ‘Balen.’ The rapper turned city mayor showed that by applying relevant tech tools, one can broaden their electoral outreach and win an election despite being an independent candidate. Balen’s victory showed that the old established parties failed to use social media effectively.

However, the problem of inequality in terms of political voting between the urban and the rural areas still persists. While urban women can engage from their homes, rural women often lack access to these platforms, underscoring the need for targeted efforts to bridge this digital divide.

For this, enabling rural women to use technology is essential for enhancing good governance in our societies. Technology plays an important role in ensuring that rural women have access to information, resources, and networks to engage in politics. Mitigating the unique hardships peculiar to women in rural areas will not only improve their political participation but also promote more diverse and inclusive political systems.

The inclusion of women in politics is not just a matter of representation or quotas; it is about effecting progressive growth. In this context, digital platforms can really help women to step up to the plate, because it offers the necessary tools to avoid such traditional barriers.

In Western countries, there has been a lot of development of digital platforms for supporting women leaders. The Feminist Action Research Project in Canada brings people together for dialogue and work online to strengthen women’s political participation in leadership positions. In the UK, the Women’s Equality Party uses social media and digital tools to build a broader political presence and empower women in leadership roles. These technologies enhance interaction and stakeholder management in acts of governance and women’s political participation.

In online campaigns, these platforms have helped women discharge their duties better by facilitating interaction with the people. However, the facilities and other infrastructure-related support available in many regions, including Nepal are still inadequate.

To address this, policy and action-oriented recommendations the state should expand digital infrastructure to ensuring that rural areas' budgets also include technology as a priority to guarantee the availability of the internet and tools in the rural regions, and organize digital literacy programs to educate women in the use of the new digital platforms as a way of enabling them to take control of the platforms. There should also be right policies in place to support and encourage women’s participation in politics. To this end, collaboration with tech companies is imperative.