An Assessment of Participation Gap between Women Voters and Women Leaders in the Politics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Over the last decade, women's participation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's electoral politics has consistently shaped its democratic outlook, primarily as voters rather than candidates. This shift marks significant progress in a region where traditional norms have long marginalized women politically. While their growing presence at the ballot box indicates rising political awareness, their reluctance to assume leadership roles raises a crucial question: Why are women voting, but not leading? Drawing on interviews with women voters, political activists, and party insiders across selected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district, this study explore how mainstream political parties like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) engage women differently depending on their roles. While women are actively mobilized as voters, they are often excluded from decision-making process and rarely encouraged to lead. Internal party hierarchies, lack of mentorship, and deeply rooted socio-religious expectations all contribute to keeping women out of leadership forums. For younger women, the barriers are even higher, compounded by generational resistance and social pressure. By highlighting the lived experiences of women navigating these tensions, the study sheds light on what it means to be politically active but still politically invisible. It calls for targeted reforms within parties and at the community level to create real opportunities-not just symbolic ones-for women to lead.