Election of 74 women to 18^th Lok Sabha (LS) is a slight dip in women representation as 78 women were elected to 17^th LS (14.4% representation). 

Status of women representation in Legislature

• 9.7% of 797 women contestants won in 18^th LS elections while in 17^th LS elections, 10.74% of 726 women contestants won. 
• Women’s representation in LS increased from 5% in first LS to its highest in 17^th LS (14.4%). 
• Presently, women members constitute 14.05% of Rajya Sabha members. 
• Globally, share of women in national parliaments is 26.9%. 

Significance of women representation:

• Women legislators perform better in their constituencies on economic indicators than their male counterparts.
• Accounting for around 50% population, legislative representation is fundamental to political empowerment.
• Women are less likely to be criminal and corrupt, more efficacious, and less vulnerable to political opportunism.

Challenges to women’s legislative representation:

• Societal Prejudices, male dominated political structures, and family obligations.
• Structural disadvantages: Election campaigns are costly, time-consuming and are marred by inappropriate commenting, hate speeches, abusive threats and muscle power.
• Internalised patriarchy: Women themselves are often influenced by patriarchal societal norms.