Challenges and Opportunities of Women Participation in Political Decision Making: In Case of Bonga Town

Abstract

The aim of this study focused to explore challenges and opportunities of women participation in formal political decision making in Bonga town. The study also designed descriptive survey and mixed research approach was employed .In addition the study of population were Bonga town the three kebeles was used as a sample, sample size were 102 respondents ,simple random sampling technique also used in this study. Method of data collection tools are survey and in depth interview additionally the method of data analysis are both quantitative and qualitative. In this study the challenges of women in political decision making the finding show that lack of affirmative action was high, seasonal political party mobilization, lack of capacity building, only 15% of women have organizational leadership experience in politics and 85% of women have no organizational leadership experience in politics and male political dominance are the challenges. The study has found that institutional opportunities such as local political decision making system that enable women to participate in politics, sharing best practice experience with the office of women and child affair in the town and friendly relationship with local political parties, creating gender awareness amongst the society women to become effective and competitive political decision making with men are the opportunities.