In the lead-up to the upcoming election, women have emerged as a crucial voting demographic, with their significance acknowledged in speeches, promises, and as the moral compass. However, amidst this spotlight on women voters, a pertinent question arises: what if women are not swayed by the rhetoric?
Insights from Round 3 of the People’s Election Pulse Survey (PEPS) by Innovision Consulting shed light on the persistent gender gap in political engagement. Throughout the survey rounds, women consistently lagged behind men in declaring their voting preferences. In the latest round, approximately 23% of female respondents remained undecided, compared to 16% of their male counterparts. Many women opted to withhold their choice, indicating a deeper reluctance to openly express their political leanings.
Delving deeper into the reasons behind this hesitance, interactions with randomly selected undecided female voters revealed a complex landscape of priorities and uncertainties. While women articulated clear concerns such as affordability of essentials, law enforcement, safety, education quality, job opportunities, and peace, there was a prevalent skepticism regarding the efficacy of electoral politics in addressing these issues.
For marginalized working-class women, daily struggles with rising costs, healthcare expenses, housing instability, and safety concerns overshadowed their faith in the political process. The notion of voting decisions being predominantly male-oriented or family-driven was normalized, reflecting a sense of exclusion rather than active disinterest.
Conversely, middle-income homemakers exhibited a sense of disillusionment and fatigue towards politics. Despite staying informed about news and party platforms, a lack of trust in politicians and a perception of repetitive electoral cycles contributed to their reluctance to commit to a candidate.
Among Gen Z women, a pronounced sense of detachment was evident, with skepticism towards the impact of elections on their future prospects, particularly in terms of employment and safety. Traditional assurances and promises failed to resonate with these younger voters, highlighting a learned skepticism towards political processes.
The common thread among these diverse experiences is a shared disillusionment with the political system’s ability to effect meaningful change. Women’s hesitation to declare their voting preferences stems from a history of unmet expectations and repeated letdowns.
This underlying disenchantment is significant considering women’s central role in various aspects of society, from household economies to community welfare. Issues like price stability, public safety, healthcare accessibility, education quality, and employment opportunities, consistently highlighted by women, continue to be inadequately addressed. The upcoming election poses a critical juncture for addressing these concerns and rebuilding women’s trust in the political process.
The sustained indecision among women voters underscores systemic challenges within the political landscape that necessitate genuine efforts to earn women’s confidence. Mere symbolic gestures or gender-specific promises are insufficient to bridge this trust deficit. Moving forward, political parties must prioritize substantive governance that tangibly improves the everyday lives of women through effective price control, enhanced safety measures, quality education, accessible healthcare, and reduced corruption.
Ultimately, the onus is on the next government, irrespective of its composition, to heed this warning and strive towards fostering a democracy where women’s trust is not just sought but earned through impactful governance. Until women perceive tangible improvements in their lives through political action, their absence from the ballot boxes and political discourse may persist.
