SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS ON WOMEN’S TURNOUT IN NA-22 OF DISTRICT MARDAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS 2018

Abstract

This study explores the socio-cultural impacts that influenced women's turnout in NA-22 of District Mardan during the 2018 General Election. Even though vote is the legal rights of women, but social norms, family influence, religious, and political consciousness all had a big impact on women turnout in elections. This study also examines the obstacles and difficulties women encounter, such as polling station accessibility, societal perceptions of female voting, and the influence of local political culture on women's political participation. There have been advancements and difficulties in guaranteeing equal voting rights for women in District Mardan. In the rural areas of Pakistan, women's voting behavior is still influenced by family dynamics, ingrained gender norms, and limited access to political education, even despite constitutional guarantees for female participation But still, socio-cultural norms like limiting women's freedom of movement, male-dominated culture, male decision-making authority, and traditional religious interpretations make it difficult for women to participate in electoral politics in NA-22 of Mardan.
Women find it challenging to participate in elections, to cast their vote due to socio-cultural norms such as restrictions on their freedom of movement, traditional norms and values and religious interpretations. This study illustrates the extent of these challenges as well as the gradual but steady progress made toward women's political empowerment. It is crucial to understand Mardan's socio-cultural context, it is needed to overcome all those challenges which affected women turnout in elections and to enhance women turnout in elections. This study will analyze socio-cultural factors affecting women's voting turnout in NA-22 of District Mardan in the context of the 2018 General Elections. The concept of women's electoral participation was investigated and evaluated using a range of closed-ended questions. Further investigations have primarily concentrated on several factors that will clearly demonstrate the gender gap in women's turnout of NA-22 in District Mardan concerning the 2018 General Elections. Frequencies and percentages have been calculated for each question. Every one of these questions has been further examined using a variety of independent variables, including age, education, urban/rural, marital status, and occupation.