Análisis de la participación política y enfoque de género de concejalas de Cuenca en la gestión 2019 - 2023

Abstract

The political sphere has historically been dominated by male participation, from its inception to the present day. Although there has been an increase in female participation in these areas in recent years, significant gaps persist that still hinder the access and permanence of many women in decision-making and political representation spaces. This research is focused on analyzing the Political Participation and Gender Focus of Cuenca Councilwomen in the 2019- 2023 term, identifying the obstacles and challenges they face when accessing these spaces, and their active commitment to improving the situation of the women they represent. The methodology applied in this research is qualitative with explanatory scope, based on the Latin American action-participation research design. The convenience sampling technique, a nonprobabilistic method, was applied. For this purpose, research techniques such as five life stories within politics and five in-depth interviews were conducted, providing various analysis themes such as active participation, political involvement and commitment, experiences within the political sphere, and the impact of female representation that allowed addressing the implication of female representation in politics. After a thorough analysis of the experiences recounted by the councilwomen, it was observed that they experienced political violence, and these acts were replicated by the media, with some even considering resigning from their positions. Time management also emerged as a challenge, as balancing political responsibilities with roles as mothers and caregivers proved difficult. In an attempt to be heard in a predominantly male environment, some councilwomen felt the need to adopt more masculinized attitudes. Despite these complications, their commitment to improving society and promoting women's rights remained steadfast, highlighting the resilience and determination of these women in the local political sphere.