Women in the Bhutanese Bureaucracy

Abstract

This chapter outlines the existing legal and policy framework and the trend in women’s representation in the civil service of Bhutan. While highlighting the encouraging growth of women in the civil service, the paper also puts forth the issue of poor women representation at the leadership levels and the steadfast but slow increase overall. Based on studies and researches carried out on women’s representation and on perceptions of the public, it is presented that literacy and education outcomes, stereotypes and socio-cultural beliefs and practices and the lack of a gender friendly environment at the workplace play a deterring role in the representation of women in the bureaucracy. The paper also goes on to mention some of the progressive policies adopted by the Government to create a conducive environment for women’s full and equal participation.