women's political empowerment

Efforts to close gender gaps in politics have focused heavily on getting women elected to parliament, but this overlooks the very different challenges facing non-elite women. New research examines how patriarchal norms, social networks, and a lack of independent decision-making shape women's political engagement across the world.

Female politicians in India expand reproductive healthcare, but spousal conflict over number of sons can turn contraceptive gains into domestic violence.

Radio programmes targeted at women in post-war Japan increased women’s political participation and accelerated fertility decline, but had limited impact on labour market outcomes where structural barriers persisted.

Evidence from India shows that women’s microcredit groups stimulate women’s political participation by building their networks

Evidence from Pakistan demonstrates that, in contexts where men act as gatekeepers, efforts to improve political outcomes for women need to engage men