Namibia's Swapo party quotas boost support for women in politics
via The Namibian4 min read
A study published in October 2025 examined the impact of gender-parity quotas in Namibia, specifically focusing on the South West Africa People鈥檚 Organisation Swapo party. In 2013, Swapo revised its internal rules to alternate between a man and a woman for every spot on its parliamentary candidate list. This voluntary party quota, rather than a national policy, led to a near doubling of women's representation in the National Assembly, from 21% to 41% after the 2014 election. The research found that women in Swapo strongholds became more supportive of women's right to hold political office, with their attitudes shifting positively. Notably, men's support for women in politics did not change, indicating no backlash. The study highlights that public opinion shifted only after women took office and became visible as political leaders, not when the quota was initially announced. This suggests that observing women govern can challenge gender biases and reshape perceptions of leadership, even in culturally conservative settings. While the study clarifies the impact of voluntary quotas on attitudes, questions remain regarding the durability of these changes and how effects might vary in different political environments or regions beyond Africa.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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