Special seats for women in the national legislature: the case of Tanzania

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Periodical article

Title:	Special seats for women in the national legislature: the case of Tanzania
Author:	Yoon, Mi Yung
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Africa Today
Volume:	55
Issue:	1
Pages:	61-86
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Tanzania
Subjects:	women parliamentarians gender inequality
External link:	http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/africa_today/v055/55.1.yoon.pdf
Abstract:	This study examines attempts to increase the number of women serving in the Tanzanian parliament by the implementation of a special-seat system for women. Women occupy just over 30 percent of the seats in the Tanzanian parliament, largely because of a system that reserves 75 parliamentary seats for women. The article examines the evolution of the system and its impact on women's competitiveness in the constituencies. It also analyses obstacles to women's entry into the legislature as constituency MPs, including Tanzania's patriarchal culture, lack of resources, and biased party nomination. The increase in the number of women elected in the constituencies and the movement of some women from special seats to constituency seats suggest that special seats can serve as stepping-stones to constituency seats, though their existence may discourage experienced and capable women from contesting in the constituencies, as argued by some analysts. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]