Exploring the Role of Gender Perceptions and Practices in Facilitating Women-Friendly Development Initiatives by Rural Local Governments of West Bengal, India

MANABENDRA ROY, SIGMA Foundation
Ankita Chakrabarti, SIGMA Foundation

Gendered norms and societal expectations shape individual behaviour and institutional policies, often perpetuating inequality by reinforcing power imbalances between men and women. Despite 50 percent reservation ensuring women’s representation in gram panchayats (village council), traditional patriarchal attitudes often hinder effective participation. This research employs a multi-method approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 45 panchayat members in 9 gram panchayats to explore how gender perceptions and practices impact the effectiveness of women-friendly development initiatives by rural local governments in West Bengal, India. Preliminary findings from 7 gram panchayats reveal that while women in local governance roles contribute to community development and challenge gender stereotypes, they still face significant barriers due to entrenched social norms and limited support structures. Issues such as the dominance of male family members in decision-making and low digital literacy among women leaders further put further constraints in their functioning. The study highlights the critical need for continued efforts to address these barriers and enhance the implementation of women-friendly policies and shift societal perceptions about women’s capabilities and roles in public life through leadership positions. Women’s input at local level helps ensure that these reforms are effectively translated into practice and that they address gender-specific needs.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Population and Development, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Qualitative data/methods/approaches

See extended abstract.