Pakistan's Female Leaders Have Confidence|信心满满的巴基斯坦女领导人

Pakistan's Female Leaders Have Confidence

  When Pakistan's new foreign minister arrived in India for talks in 2011, it triggered a media storm on both sides of the border, not because of policy, but because of a Birkin bag. Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's youngest and first female foreign minister at 34, was put under international scrutiny for her pearl necklaces, Cavalli sunglasses, and expensive handbags. "A guy in my place would never get such attention ―― nobody would be talking about his suit," Khar said at the time.


  Female politicians in Pakistan may still be evaluated by many according to appearance, but their impact on the political system there is more than just superficial. Figures released by the Election Commission show a 129.8 percent increase in the number of women contesting general seats since the 2008 election. Moreover, Pakistan has had a female prime minister in Benazir Bhutto and currently has Fehmida Mirza as speaker. Reserved seats for women have always been guaranteed in Pakistan's constitution, and over the years, the number of quota seats has increased due to the efforts of activists. While reserved seats are improving representation, the portion they represent stands at 22.5 percent, the same as in the UK and better than the 17.8 percent found in the US. Perhaps not surprisingly, these women are predominantly from elite backgrounds. Women from poorer families remain largely excluded from the political system, and at the far end of the spectrum, many are completely disenfranchised. While some are dismissive of politicians drawn from the country's elite, the increased presence of women has clearly had a positive effect because it has neutralized the notion that politics is just for males.

 

信心满满的巴基斯坦女领导人

  当巴基斯坦的新任外交部长于 2011 年抵达印度发表演说时,在边界双方引发了轩然大波,其原因并不是因为政治议题,而是由于一只铂金包。三十四岁的希娜.拉巴尼.卡尔是巴基斯坦最年轻,同时也是首位女性外交部长,她穿戴的珍珠项鍊、Cavalli 太阳眼镜以及昂贵的手提包都受到国际间的严密审视。当时卡尔表示:『要是一个男性处于我这个位置的话,绝不会受到这种瞩目――没有人会去探讨他穿的西装。』


  巴基斯坦的女性政治家仍然可能因为其外貌而受到许多人评论,但她们在政坛的影响力可就没有那么肤浅了。由选委会公布的数据显示,自从 2008 年大选以来,女性参选普通席次的人数成长了百分之一百二十九点八。此外,巴基斯坦前总理碧娜芝.布托以及现任发言人菲米达.米勒萨都是女性。妇女保障席次一直以来也都受巴基斯坦宪法的保障,而且这些年来,由于积极份子的努力,分配席次的名额持续在增加。尽管保留席次增加了代表人数,她们所占的代表比例为百分之二十二点五,这个比例与英国相同,而且还优于美国的百分之十七点八。这些女性大多出身于精英背景或许并不令人意外。大多数来自较贫苦家庭的女性仍被排除在政治体系之外,而在政治光谱的另一端,许多人完全被剥夺了投票的权利。虽然有些人鄙视这些出身精英阶层的政治人物,但妇女席次的增加也有明显正向的影响,因为政治上专属于男性的观念已被瓦解。



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Pakistan's Female Leaders Have Confidence|信心满满的巴基斯坦女领导人

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