Despite being led by a female president for almost two years, Malawian women are less likely to be involved in political discussions and show less interest in public affairs than their male counterparts, according to a 2014 Afrobarometer survey.
Women in Malawi are also less likely than men to attend a political rally or campaign meeting, to persuade others to vote for a candidate, and to work for a political candidate.
Survey results show a sharp decline in public support for women’s political leadership.
This data is being released at a time of vivid debate about which factors contributed to a decline in women’s representation in Parliament (from 22% in 2009 to 17% in 2014) despite several national efforts to enhance women’s participation in politics.