In Nira Yuval-Davis’s “Gender and Nation,” the author discusses
gender relations and citizenship. She states, “That is its dualistic nature: on
one hand, women are always included, at least to some extent, in the general
body of citizens of the state, and its political, social and legal policies: on
the other hand, there is always more or less developed, a separate body of
legislation which relates to them specifically as women.” I agree with this
assessment of citizenship. In the United States alone women make up half of the
population, yet fail to be represented in the “body of legislation.” The role
of the legislative branch is to make laws that protect its citizens. However,
when women are not present in these discussions, legislation has the ability to
hurt women. According to a recent report released by the Center for American
Women and Politics, “Women
currently hold 18.3% of seats in Congress and 20% of the seats in the Senate.”
There is a large discrepancy between overall population and representation.
Women represent less than a ¼ of the entire legislative branch, causing what
Yuval-Davis states as the “dualistic nature” of citizenship.
Additionally, Yuval- Davis states that there are three dimensions of
citizenship, “civil, political, and social.” She argues that though women are
present in the political realm via voting, that women are largely excluded from
the civil and social dimensions. I agree with her dimensions of citizenship,
however, women across the world are deprived of their political rights daily. I
would be wary to assume the political citizenship of all women globally.
Although many women feel connected to their state, they are not “full-members”
of the sovereign state.
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