Women in Mauritius: Social Status and Political Activity

The issues surrounding the achievement of gender equality in African countries remain an integral part of debates concerning democratization and sustainable development. Enhancing women’s political, economic, and social empowerment is commonly linked to increasing their representation in legislative and executive bodies. Through such participation, women gain the ability to influence decision-making processes, including those pertaining to gender relations. Analysis of the social position and political role of Mauritian women has revealed that the elevation of their public status and the expansion of their political participation occur primarily within the context of government-driven gender-sensitive policies, rather than as a direct result of the actions of female parliamentarians. Numerous women’s associations, established as early as the colonial period, exert a certain influence on the Mauritian government’s adoption of legislation aimed at improving women’s status. However, the effectiveness of these associations is undermined by intra-movement divisions along racial, religious, and other lines, as well as by their dependence on government funding and the consequent governmental control over their activities.

Africa, Mauritius, women’s NGOs, gender-sensitive policy, political system