A woman’s place? gender in Lao politics

Author: Kelley Frances Gary

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.GD-02-11

Year: 2002

Academic Program: Gender and Development Studies (GDS)

Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2002

Examination Committee: Bernadette P. Resurreccion (Chairperson); Barbara Earth, Willi Zimmerman (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: This study examines how gender shapes women’s political participation in the Lao PDR. It first maps the structure of the political system while assessing levels of women’s representation within each institution. It then examines the role of the unique Lao Women’s Union. Analysis is deepened by questioning how gender affects women’s participation in both a top level body (the National Assembly) and one of the first levels of the state apparatus, the bureaucracy. The study shows that gender is an ever-present organizing factor in politics. Explicit gender nonns, implicit political ideology, and the structure of the state itself all gender politics ‘male’. Thus, though women are guaranteed equal political rights they are marginalized within the system.

Scholarship Donor(s): US Fulbright Fellowship; Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship

Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

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Search keywords index: Kelley Frances Gary A woman’s place? gender in Lao politics Gender and Development Studies (GDS) Women in politics — Laos