Women in Mauritius make up more than half of the population, yet we see very few women in politics or the national assembly. Women are still more educated and free to participate in politics, so why the under-representation? To understand the situation better, it is necessary to look at the elements contributing to this problem.

Men dominate politics, but it is not exclusively a male domain. To say today that politics is a field only for men would be an outdated statement. Women are just as capable as men of being political and contributing to the good of society. Indeed, we live in a modern world where women are successful in education, are independent, and some laws enforce their rights, but this does not mean that the number of women in politics has increased. In Mauritius, the men hold power and make the decisions. It is the patriarchal culture that affects the position of women politicians.