‘Making the leap’: Community politics and the under-representation of South Asian women councillors

SynopsisThis article examines South Asian women's participation in formal politics at local government level and provides an understanding of the importance attached to women's representation. In recent years minority ethnic women's under-representation in politics, exclusion from public life and experiences of discrimination have been brought into sharp focus. Various recommendations have been put forward to address under-representation, including consultation with women in grassroots organisations, commitment to quotas by political parties and the launch of a Taskforce. The article presents the findings of research funded by the British Academy with councillors and women in grassroots organisations regarding progression routes into politics. The link between descriptive and substantive representation in politics is made through the contribution to public life, local democracy and informed decision-making. The concern is over whether the black body fits into formal politics.