Voting is the commonest and yet most important act of political participation. Women voters constitute an important component in Indian democracy as they comprise half of the population, and are enfranchised members of the political realm. The strength of women voters is well realised today, and there is growing consensus that they can be a bloc possessing the capabilities to influence politics. In fact, during election time, women voters are taken very seriously and political parties pay special attention to organize them, campaign among them, and distribute doles and booties to woo them to vote for their candidates. Increasing awareness among women voters about their rights has led to a situation where the political parties and politicians today cannot afford to oppose any move against women or against their empowerment and annoy women voters. The fear that such politicians can be disapproved or dejected looms large.
The journey of women from being considered as an apathetic bloc to being now considered as a significant influencer in politics has been not been easy or a short one. It will be appropriate to recollect women’s struggle for suffrage. The movement to demand the right to vote has been the most visible site of women’s struggle. One of the major agendas of the feminist movements in late nineteenth century was to gain the right to vote for women, and the first demand emerged in 1848 in France. The cause of women’s suffrage was extended over more than a century and included most nations of the globe. Women were denied the right to vote on the grounds that they were dependent on men, and men represented their dependents as well as themselves. Women’s suffrage movement challenged these notions and claimed that women’s individuality was as fundamental as that as of men. The first country to give right to vote for women was Scandinavia, followed by others. However, there are still few countries which are yet to give the right to vote for women.
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Back home in Goa, it is interesting to know that demand for right to vote for women sowed its seeds during second phase of Portuguese rule in Goa (1822-1911). During this phase the French Revolution and advent of liberalism changed the situation in Portugal and subsequently in her colonies. Elections were held to its Parliament-Cortes, and elections were also held in Goa in 1822 to choose three representatives by the people to the Portuguese Parliament. Even though these elections were criticized as ‘elections with Bayonets’ (Azevedo Carmo 1972), the period saw awakening in Goan Women. Two prominent women who need mention are Figueiredo Properia C. de Afonso and Ermelinda Stuart Gomes. They were primary school teachers and much involved in social reformation. In fact, Properia C. de Afonso emphasized that women should have voting rights as they had a right to vote in communidades in earlier times. Post liberation, elections to Lok Sabha, as well as Legislative Assembly witnessed large turnout of women voters. In the 1975, 1980 and 1985 elections, women surpassed men in voting. In the 1998 elections, women surpassed men in seven constituencies. Voting pattern in the subsequent elections have further confirmed the positive trends. Though there exists a gender gap ratio in voting turnout in Goa, it is very narrow.
Goa is one of the five states going for Assembly elections in the month of February/March 2022. We can witness growing tendencies of promises and policies for women across the states.
A study was conducted in Goa to gauge the factors that influence voting behavior of women. It was observed that women are enthusiastic about their right to vote which definitely is a good sign. Education and independence are equally proportionate to each other, and as increasing women are getting educated in Goa and they are likely to exercise their vote independently. Though housewives were likely to make their choice on the basis of suggestions from male members of their family, a finer observation was made when few respondents said that the decision to vote and whom to vote was decided by the family as a whole. Unlike observations made in studies of voting behaviour of women in other states in India, in Goa there are no incidences where women have refused to come out to vote out of fear of eve teasing or violence. Also, no respondent reported that the male members of the family restricted them from going out to vote neither did any respondent report that they were forced to exercise their right to vote. Factors such as increasing female literacy, economic development, liberal environment which counter check the evil forces of patriarchy, and political modernization in the state have really helped women in the state to become a force to be reckoned with, and there are no doubts that women voters will decide the destiny of the leaders in the upcoming elections in Goa.
