1、 Problem posing

Myanmar women have a long history of participation in political life, from the establishment of the Myanmar Women's Association in 1919 to the active participation of female members in the strike movement of the "I Burmese Association" in 1938, and then to the decrease in women's political participation after independence in 1948. After the political transition in 2011, there were more opportunities for women to participate in politics, and the number of female candidates in the 2020 general election reached a historic high. However, despite the increase in the proportion of seats held by women in parliament, women are still marginalized in the high-level political arena. This article will analyze the performance and changes of women's political participation in Myanmar during the 2010, 2015, and 2020 general elections, as well as the development stages and institutional factors of women's political status.

2、 Existing research on women's political participation in Myanmar

The existing research on women's political participation in Myanmar reveals the status and level of participation of women in the political field in the country. Early research suggests that due to the influence of Myanmar's matrilineal social culture, women enjoy equal social status with men and participate extensively in political life. During the Pagan period, women had the right to control property and their status continued after marriage. British scholar Scott also believed that women in Myanmar had a free and happy status. However, in the early 21st century, scholars such as Chihui Iketani criticized that although women have a higher social status, this does not directly translate into political participation. The study also pointed out that there is a large gender gap in Myanmar society, and traditional authoritarian politics and conservative culture lead to low female political participation. During the military government's rule, women's participation in politics was hindered and their status did not improve. The existing literature is mainly divided into two stages: the first stage emphasizes the high social status of women, and the second stage analyzes the reasons for the low political participation of women. However, there is a lack of analysis of the dynamic changes in women's political participation from a historical perspective combined with the domestic political environment. This article aims to analyze the changing characteristics and institutional factors of women's political participation in the 2010, 2015, and 2020 general elections through comparative research methods, as well as the gaps and changing characteristics between female and male parliamentarians, and female and male candidates in the process of political participation, in order to reflect the situation and changes of women's political participation in Myanmar in recent years.

3、 Analysis of the changing trend of Myanmar women's participation in previous elections

Through data analysis, the participation of Myanmar women in political elections was explored. From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of female candidates in the federal parliament and provincial state parliament has significantly increased, rising from 5.45% and 3.49% to 16.17% and 18.36%, respectively. The proportion of female parliamentary seats has also increased, with the federal parliament increasing from 4.02% to 15.34% and the provincial and state parliament increasing from 3.57% to 17.32%. In terms of election rates, the gap between male and female parliamentarians is gradually narrowing, and it was almost the same in 2020. The age structure of female legislators shows an increase in the proportion of elderly female legislators and a decrease in the proportion of young female legislators. In terms of party composition, the proportion of female members of the Democratic League has increased, while the proportion of female members of the Gongfa Party and ethnic minority parties has decreased. Female legislators mainly hold bachelor's degrees, but the proportion of doctoral degrees has decreased. These changes reflect the increasing awareness and level of women's political participation during Myanmar's political transition, as well as the growing influence of the Democratic League in the political power structure. At the same time, it also pointed out the challenges of the Democratic League in attracting young party members and improving the cultural quality of party members.

4、 Factors influencing the political participation of female parliamentarians in Myanmar

Between 2010 and 2020, the participation of female parliamentarians in Myanmar has improved, with an increase in the proportion of female candidates and women in parliament, but there is still a gap compared to men. The political transformation in Myanmar has provided a more relaxed political participation environment for women, expanding their freedom of speech and improving the political environment. Educational progress has led to an increase in women's educational level and enhanced their ability to participate in politics. The level of gender equality within the Democratic League is high, and Aung San Suu Kyi's personal charm has inspired women to participate in politics. However, the older age of female legislators is related to the party building and talent cultivation system of the Democratic League. The Democratic League is facing the political dilemma of the elderly and the centralization of power structure, which has led to a slow rise of newcomers. The change in the distribution of female parliamentarians reflects the power struggle between different political parties, and the proportion of seats held by the Democratic League in parliament reflects its solid foundation and significant influence in Myanmar society. The proportion of female members of minority political parties first decreased and then rebounded, which is related to the lack of party building resources and frequent wars and conflicts. The low educational level of female legislators is related to the talent cultivation system and party building within the Democratic League. The Democratic League government is known as the most literary minded cabinet, and the proportion of legislators with professional backgrounds has increased.

5、 Conclusion

Since the political transition in 2010, the participation and enthusiasm of Myanmar women in political elections have significantly increased, with increasing participation and election rates. The popularization of online self media and the improvement of women's education level have created favorable conditions for political participation. Aung San Suu Kyi's support and gender equality within the Democratic League have promoted the development of women's political participation, resulting in an increase in the number of seats and representation of women in parliament. The change in the proportion of female parliamentarians reflects the competition among political forces in Myanmar and the power structure issues within the Democratic League. The aging population and educational background of female legislators limit the ability of the Democratic League to address national issues. Myanmar women's political participation still faces many challenges, such as authoritarian politics, democratization level, gender awareness, and economic development. After the military came to power in 2021, the future participation of female parliamentarians has become a focus of academic attention.