Empowering Women in Politics: Overcoming Financial Barriers
Addressing the financial challenges hindering women's political participation, this story advocates for funding initiatives to support female candidates. By highlighting the barriers faced, it urges for assistance such as subsidies and dedicated funding to encourage more women to enter politics. The narrative emphasizes the importance of gender equality in leadership positions and the need for societal support to boost women's representation in politics.
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Regional Media training on Women s Political Participation Johannesburg, South Africa , 7-9 March 2022, Neo Kolantsho WHITHER WOMEN POLITICIANS Published on :15/01/2021 Enhancing Women's Political Participation through media.
SYNOPSIS Story is about need of funding for women in politics. many barriers picked as reasons for low female representation women giving up before they can even try. Because politics has become increasingly expensive the depth of one''s pockets matters greatly when entering into the world of politics. Political parties need to acknowledge need for funding Understand how hard or easy is it to get funding for women politicians compared to men. women wings at party level are doing to ensure women are funded to better their chances of winning. Is the local Is government willing to financially support female politicians or not. hearing from female politicians, their financial struggles that begin at nomination level or party level all the way to general elections. those who succeed often have the support of their partners being males. However, for those whose partners are not interested in politics, it is always a hard. they have to convince their spouses beyond reasonable doubt why the family money should be spent on politics. Enhancing Womens Political Participation through media
Background The story mainly wants to address financial challenges faced by women who wish to join politics and hopefully find solutions to the nagging problems of female under-representation. It is a story that seeks to expose the difficulties that keep women away from politics by gathering ideas and reaching out to the public and government in an effort to educate. Come up with suggestions on how best to lure female candidates to the fore front of politics with things like subsidies, child care or a certain portion set aside specifically for female politicians. Should that be introduced, many might be motivated to come forward knowing well that they have something to fall back on should they not win. Currently women fear losing it all in the name of politics and stay back, leading to more male assuming leadership positions and women left out. Meaning women are not well represented when it comes to issues affecting them when policies are made or revised in parliament. Enhancing Women s Political Participation through media
Key Objectives I hope that the story will send a message that there is need to pay more attention to funding female candidates to create an environment which will see them competing with men. Women are naturally family care takers hence seen as not focused and easily derailed. But if they can be financially assisted with things like child care expenses amongst others or transport costs, they will not worry much about kids and family finances. Men have always been at an added advantage as they are easily trusted for leadership positions however it takes much convincing to invest in a female candidate. Enhancing Women s Political Participation through media
Target audience The story was aimed at reaching decision makers be at party level, national or even investors. The story is meant to portray a woman as equally capable however her dreams hampered by lack of money. Leaders at party level need to deliberately have in place funds that are specifically for women politicians. Government also needs to stand out and throw its weight behind every woman who will move from their comfort zones and join politics. Men who are not interested in politics should also be understanding when their partners join politics, instead of reducing them to home chores or labeling them stubborn, listen to their ideas and where possible invest in their political career. It is pleasing to know that government has received suggestions that there is need for female/party funding. As the media, our role is to help further send the message home hoping that law makers will realize the need to fund women. Enhancing Women's Political Participation through media
Sources and accessibility I spoke to women who are into politics in Gaborone and those residing in rural areas. This helped me compare challenges that female politicians in urban communities face compared to those residing in villages. I found out from those actively involved in politics how campaigns are run and how much is spent on them. Who funds them and the struggles they face. I then engaged party leaders to understand their plans and how they wish to keep woman actively involved without them being forced to pull out because of constrained budgets. Spoke to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to find out if there are discussions around political party funding given that there is talk on electoral law review. Women were my main subjects of the story so I interviewed four women of different political homes with some holding high positions at women wing level. I then spoke to one man who is an officer at IEC to know if they are also realizing the need to fund women. Enhancing Women s Political Participation through media
Challenges encountered in putting the story together -Sources were busy for interviews - Some were not interested in taking part - Wanted to dictate how the story should be written Enhancing Women's Political Participation through media
Impact Enhancing Womens Political Participation through media
Feedback The story made it to the front page of the Botswana Guardian newspaper, a rare feat. The front page was posted on the newspaper's face book page that boosts of over 200 000 followers. However, the community seemingly did not pick it as an interesting topic of the day. This went a long way to prove that most Batswana still believe that all is well with male dominating the political sphere . The only response the page received was one individual asking why women cannot be applauded for doing well without being accused of sleeping their way to the top. It is the hope and believe of this reporter that message has been received by the affected and we will begin seeing change concerning supporting female politicians is concerned. This can be observed during the build up to the 2024 national elections. Enhancing Women's Political Participation through media
