Routledge Women Voters in Indian Elections: Changing Trends and Emerging Patterns

This book looks at different dimensions of political participation of women voters in India. Elections in India have witnessed an increasing electoral participation of women, both as political actors and as voters. Taking note of this positive development, the book looks at what has contributed to this increased turnout among women voters in Indian elections and discusses in detail the factors that facilitate or hinder this participation. Drawing on empirical data from 11 Indian states, it looks at key issues like the voting behaviour and political activities of Indian women; individual and motivational factors affecting participation; the political socialization of women at home; the role of internalized patriarchy and political opinions; along with the challenges faced by women in attaining representation in Indian politics. An important contribution in the study of voting patterns, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of political studies, women’s studies, gender studies, sociology, Indian politics, political sociology, voting behaviour and South Asian studies. It will also be useful for journalists and activists. About the Author Sanjay Kumar is Professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, India. He served as the Director of CSDS from January 2014 until January 2020. His main areas of research have been Indian elections and voting behaviour, but using quantitative methodologies, he has also been engaged in conducting research on other topics, namely Indian youth and the state of democracy in South Asia. He has published several books and edited volumes on Indian elections. Some of his well-known books are Post Mandal Politics in Bihar: Changing Electoral Patterns (2018), Changing Electoral Politics in Delhi: From Caste to Class (2013) and Measuring Voting Behaviour in India (2013). Besides these, he has also co-authored and edited volumes on Indian youth. In addition to academic writing, he contributes regularly to both English and Hindi newspapers. His articles are published regularly in Asian Age, Deccan Chronicles, The Mint, The Hindu, Indian Express, Dainik Bhaskar and Rajasthan Patrika. He is also a well-known psephologist and a familiar face on Indian television as an election analyst.