The problem of gender quotas: women's representatives on Timor-Leste's suku councils

Abstract

This article examines the experiences of women occupying reserved seats on the suku councils of Timor-Leste (each of which represents a number of small villages). The limited political participation of these women is often ascribed to patriarchal ideas within rural areas, and the need for capacity development. This article argues, however, that there are further structural issues at play, whereby the interaction between traditional and modern governance makes it difficult for women occupying reserved seats to make their mark. While gender quotas can be a useful tool to encourage women's political participation, these structural issues need to be recognised and addressed in order to truly empower women.

Le problème des quotas de genre: représentantes des femmes au sein des conseils de suku du Timor oriental

Cet article examineles expériences des femmes qui occupent des sièges réservés au sein des conseils desuku duTimor oriental (dont chacun représente un petit nombre de petits villages). La participation politique limitée de ces femmes est souvent attribuée à des idées patriarcales propres aux zones rurales et à la nécessité de développement des capacités.Cet article soutient, toutefois, qu'il y a d'autres questions structurelles en jeu,dans le cadre desquelles l'interaction entre la gouvernance traditionnelle et moderne fait qu'il est difficile pour les femmes qui occupent des sièges réservés de s'imposer. Bien que les quotas de genrepuissent constituer un outil utile pour encourager la participation politique des femmes, ces questions structurelles doivent être reconnues et résolues pour véritablement autonomiser les femmes.

O problema das quotas de gênero: representantes das mulheres nos conselhos de suku de Timor-Leste

Este artigo examina as experiências das mulheres que estão ocupando posições reservadas nos conselhos de suku de Timor-Leste (cada um deles representa vários vilarejos pequenos). A participação política limitada destas mulheres é frequentemente atribuída a ideias patriarcais dentro de áreas rurais e à necessidade de desenvolvimento de capacidades. Este artigo argumenta, porém, que há outras questões estruturais em jogo, que fazem com que a interação entre a governança tradicional e a moderna dificulte que as mulheres ocupem posições que possibilitem que elas façam uma diferença. Embora as quotas de gênero possam ser uma ferramenta útil para incentivar a participação política das mulheres, essas questões estruturais precisam ser reconhecidas e abordadas para realmente empoderar as mulheres.

El problema de las cuotas de género: las mujeres representantes en los consejos suku de Timor Oriental

Este ensayo analiza las experiencias de las mujeres que ocuparon curules reservadas para ellas en los consejos suku de Timor Oriental (cada uno de ellos representaba varias aldeas). La limitada participación política de las mujeres se atribuye a menudo a las ideas patriarcales que existen en el ámbito rural y a la necesidad de desarrollar capacidades. Sin embargo, el ensayo sostiene que entran en juego otros temas estructurales como la interacción entre gobierno tradicional y moderno, lo cual impide que las mujeres que ocupan curules reservadas consigan el impacto deseado. Desde luego, las cuotas de género pueden favorecer una mayor participación política de las mujeres, pero para que las mujeres se empoderen de manera significativa el orden estructural tiene que ser visibilizado y deconstruido.

Keywords:

• Aid
• Gender and diversity
• Governance and public policy
• Southeast Asia

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rui Pinto, Sarah Maddison, and Duncan McDuie-Ra for their helpful comments on this article. As always, special thanks must go to my interviewees and the people of Venilale and Ainaro who so generously welcomed me into their homes and their lives.

Notes

As I conducted fieldwork in Tetun, one of the two official languages of Timor-Leste, I use the Tetun term adat rather than traditional or customary law, to avoid the possibility of mis-translation. While there is significant overlap, adat is wider than a simple legal structure, encompassing morality and spirituality as well as other non-legal rituals such as the placing of spiritual protections from harm.

Interview with women's representative, suku Fatulia, Venilale, 31 October 2008.

Literally meaning ‘the state is yet to come’.

Interview with two female local NGO leaders, Ainaro vila, 20 January 2009.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deborah Cummins

Deborah Cummins is at the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.