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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Intersectionality and women's political citizenship: the case of Mauritius
Author:Ramtohul, RamolaISNI
Year:2015
Periodical:Journal of Contemporary African Studies (ISSN 1469-9397)
Volume:33
Issue:1
Pages:27-47
Language:English
Geographic term:Mauritius
Subjects:communalism
women's rights
political conditions
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2015.1021211
Abstract:This paper analyses the impact of intersectionality and multiple identities on women's political citizenship in Mauritius. Mauritius is commonly known as a 'rainbow nation' with its multiethnic population marked by ethnic or communal divisions. Communalism dominates the Mauritian political system and institutions, intensifying during elections when the different communal groups compete for representation in parliament. The paper argues that the strong emphasis attributed to ethnic and communal representation by the Mauritian political system and structures marginalises women's political citizenship. Political candidates are often sponsored by religious and sociocultural organisations that are male dominated whereas the women's lobby is weak in comparison to the communal lobby. The paper thus contends that the communal dimension in Mauritian politics carries a significant gendered dimension. Communalism has made the political system very resistant to change, besides the fact that it marginalises women. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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