Rokhaya DIAGNE

Thesis project:

On May 28, 2010, Senegal adopted Law No. 2010-11 of May 28, 2010, establishing absolute parity in fully or partially elected bodies. The new law, which is a major step forward in the fight against the political underrepresentation of women, aims to rebalance the male-dominated political arena and promote the development of women-sensitive policies. However, despite the existence of the law requiring gender alternation on candidate lists, men continue to dominate political life. This thesis aims to examine the reasons behind male control of Senegalese politics, as well as women's responses to this situation. It also looks at the importance women attach to addressing the main needs of Senegalese women. This last consideration was one of the main arguments put forward by advocates of parity during the campaign for the adoption of the law. In doing so, we show that male domination of political life dates back to the colonial period and was consolidated during the early years of Senegal's independence. Furthermore, women, who have always supported men in politics, were late in acquiring citizenship under colonization, which allowed them to participate officially in political life. Nevertheless, every time they have attempted to gain a foothold in the public arena, they have been constrained by men who limit their actions to electoral mobilization for their own benefit. Seizing on the international context and the willingness of the head of state, Abdoulaye Wade, to improve their political representation, women obtained the law on parity, which establishes gender equality in elected office. Similarly, the thesis revisits the content of the law, its sources, and the various forms of opposition and obstacles that affect its effectiveness. It also revisits the resistance developed by men, allowing them to circumvent parity and dominate the decision-making bodies of representative institutions. Finally, through interviews with elected women from the National Assembly, the HCCT, the Mbacké Departmental Council, and the Saint-Louis Municipal Council, the research examines the strategies and resources that women have developed to legitimize themselves in politics and attempt to escape male control. It also examines the identity and political trajectory of elected women and shows that the organization and functioning of institutions, as well as these women's political dependence on political leaders, particularly at the local level, constitute obstacles to the substantial representation of women in representative institutions in Senegal.