Beyond quota seats for women in the Tanzanian legislature

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Periodical article

Title:	Beyond quota seats for women in the Tanzanian legislature
Author:	Yoon, Mi Yung
Year:	2016
Periodical:	Canadian Journal of African Studies (ISSN 0008-3968)
Volume:	50
Issue:	2
Pages:	191-210
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Tanzania
Subjects:	women parliamentarians gender relations voting political conditions
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00083968.2016.1202849
Abstract:	To assess the utility of quota experience in winning open seats, this article examines the factors explaining why only a small number of quota members of parliament (MPs) switch to non-quota seats in the context of Tanzania, where quota seats for women have been in place for three decades. Despite the socioeconomic and political forces offsetting the advantages of quota seats, special seats, if used effectively, are instrumental to winning constituency seats. To materialize a switch to a constituency seat, an early decision to run, strategic selection of a constituency, a track record of service to the target constituency, and mobilization of grassroots women are essential for special-seat women. The findings of this study, shed some light on how women's parliamentary representation can move beyond the dependence on gender quotas. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]