Page 69 - Peoples_Journal_Sri_Lanka

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ISSN 3121-3049
People's Journal Sri Lanka Volume 01, Issue 01

demonstrates how poverty and economic risk reduce political agency and
create a transactional nature in voting practices.

Similarly, many women reported that their employment in the estate sector,
particularly in estate management or politically affiliated trade unions, also
influenced their voting choices. Estate women, fearing job insecurity or
social exclusion, are often forced to vote for parties endorsed by their estate
supervisors or union leaders. This reveals a power imbalance and a form of
coercive dependency that limits free political expression. In such a context,
voting is not an act of individual choice but the result of hierarchical pressure
in a socio-economically constrained environment.

“As the election approaches, everyone gives away one item after another.

They even reduce the price of bread flour. When the election is over, they
increase the price again…”

Moreover, access to political information is limited among estate women,
which further deepens their dependence on male family members or union
figures for electoral decisions. With limited educational opportunities and
limited media exposure, many women rely on the opinions and advice of
their husbands, fathers, or union leaders. This gender dependency reflects
both the socio-economic marginalization and patriarchal norms that prevail
in estate communities. As a result, women‘s votes are often cast not on
personal political beliefs but under the influence of others, leaving
democratic representation aside.

Some respondents indicated that promises of jobs, housing or education for
their children often drive their voting decisions. These motivations arise
from the long-term neglect of development in estate areas, where basic
services are scarce and depend on political patronage. This reflects a rational
calculation in a deprived socio-economic context and highlights how state
neglect reinforces dependence on political actors for essential services. This
leads to a cycle in which women‘s votes are treated as commodities to secure
survival rather than expressions of civic empowerment.

08. Intersections of Ethnicity, Caste & Religion