MANAMA, 20 October — Women in Bahrain seem very upbeat about the forthcoming parliamentary elections, undeterred by last May’s municipal elections in which female candidates drew a blank.

With their active participation, Bahraini women are scoring a regional first in parliamentary polls, set for Oct. 24 as part of King Hamad’s sweeping political reforms to take Bahrain on the path of democracy. There are eight women candidates in a field of 177 vying for 40 seats of the House of Deputies. The odds against them are heavy but observers do not rule out the possibility of at least one making it into Parliament.

As the elections, Bahrain’s first since 1973, draw near, female candidates, activists and organizations are busy campaigning in various constituencies. The failure of women candidates to win any seat in the municipal elections has reinforced their determination to do well this time around. Studies blamed the May setback to local traditions that do not accept women as decision makers in male-dominated Bahraini society.

Latifah Mohammed Al-Gooud, a training and development manager who is contesting in the southern province, spoke to Arab News about her electoral experience in the shadow of women’s poor showing in the municipal elections.

"First of all, I don’t think it is fair to compare parliamentary elections with municipal elections. Neither the candidates nor the issues are similar. The political position and skills of parliamentary candidates vary from those of municipal candidates. Moreover, it was our first election after 20 years of political vacuum in the country. The experience was quite new."

Al-Gooud said women activists, led by the king’s wife, are working to educate and encourage women to exercise their political rights. They are being told that Bahraini women have achieved what their counterparts elsewhere in the Arab world have long been fighting for.

"Women are now much more aware of the importance of their political participation. They know that voting is a big responsibility that they should make good use of. I think this election is a totally different experience for all of us."

She blamed the Bahraini media for not doing enough to educate the people, especially women, about their political role.

Asked about her main campaign plank, she said she was seeking voters’ support for democracy, security and prosperity. "I do focus on corruption, unemployment, creating an economic vision, industrial progress and evolving a civil law for the personal and social rights of women. We do agree to the basic Islamic laws but we also want to develop other social rights for women such as a more reasonable regulation for the working mother."

Faiza Al-Zayani, who heads the department of social care, rehabilitation and training at the Labor Ministry, is running in the capital province. She agreed that this election is unique in that the candidates will decide the future course of the country. "It is a different job altogether from that of municipal council members."

She said her election slogan was "Solid family and secure society". But "I do concentrate a lot on social issues because of my experience as a social worker".

Al-Zayani said she was very optimistic about the outcome of the election. "We learned a lot from the last election and voters are showing better understanding of women’s role in Bahrain’s political life. Many women voters have told me that they had voted for men in the municipal elections but they closed their doors and phones once they were elected. Female voters now agree that women candidates are far better at articulating their issues."

Among the eight women candidates one holds a PhD in international relations; two hold masters degrees and the others are university graduates, including two lawyers. Voter turnout in the municipal elections was 51 percent and observers expect the same percentage in this poll.

Meanwhile, the national election committee announced that 177 candidates will run for parliament after 14 had withdrawn their nominations. More than 1,500 state employees will handle the election procedures in 55 polling stations.