Nominations and Electability – The Role of Gender Norms in Nepal’s Local Elections

Major political parties in Nepal nominate fewer women for competitive seats, despite claims of ‘gender blindness’ in their candidate selection process. This is the result of a flawed nomination process, as well as selection criteria that are inherently male-favouring. Female deputy chief executive candidates received marginally less votes than male counterparts but there was no statistically significant difference when females were the chief executive candidate, defying the myth that female candidates are less electable. The biases against female candidates do not end with the nomination process. Even if they win an election, women often face behaviours based on gender norms (such as women not being perceived as chief executives) that affect their performance.

Major political parties in Nepal nominate fewer women for competitive seats, despite claims of ‘gender blindness’ in their candidate selection process. This is the result of a flawed nomination process, as well as selection criteria that are inherently male-favouring. Female deputy chief executive candidates received marginally less votes than male counterparts but there was no statistically significant difference when females were the chief executive candidate, defying the myth that female candidates are less electable. The biases against female candidates do not end with the nomination process. Even if they win an election, women often face behaviours based on gender norms (such as women not being perceived as chief executives) that affect their performance.

Read the study report in Nepali