Doreen Chemutai
Department of Public Administration and Management, Gulu University
Abstract
This study considers voter perceptions as resources women politicians cultivate. How women cultivate this resource is relatively understudied in Uganda. The study addresses the gap in the literature through a qualitative approach. Women Members of Parliament (MPs) representing the Northern Uganda districts of Kitgum, Pader, Oyam, Agago, and Gulu selected purposively completed individual in-depth interviews. Additionally, constituents in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) provided input with the help of a discussion guide. Findings reveal that voters’ perceptions of women MPs are contextual; voter characteristics and expectations influence voters’ impression of an individual. Irrespective of the seat type, women MPs cultivate votes through constituency service. However, women in reserved seats use humility, honesty, and motherliness to influence voters’ perceptions. Compared to women in open seats, women in reserved seats are better at nurturing voter perceptions. A further revelation is that a reciprocal relationship exists between voters’ perceptions of MPs and performance outcomes. The study suggests that voters’ perceptions are an essential political resource as they provide a feedback loop for improved performance, better policies and the election of good leaders.
Keywords: Women MPs, affirmative action, voters’ perceptions, electoral politics, northern Uganda
Introduction
Parliamentary representation is primarily descriptive, meaning replicating constituency demands in Parliament, and substantive, denotating acting on behalf of constituencies in legislation (Pitkin 1967:8-12). The extent of representatives’ responsiveness to constituency interests affects and is affected by constituency perceptions (Clayton, Josefsson and Wang 2017:281). Performance affects perceptions, and voters elect representatives who meet their expectations. In turn MPs’ desire to get elected influences them to meet voter expectations. The viability of a representative starts with constituents’ perceptions of the representative’s legislative behaviour (Helfer, Wäspi and Varone 2021: 167). A clear demonstration of the relationship between performance and perceptions is what Eisenhardt (1989:58), calls a principal-agent relationship. Representatives account to their voters through performance, and voters respond by punishing or rewarding the MP on the ballot.