Divided by Ideology and United by Gender Stereotypes: Debating Politics of Representation and Tokenism in Student Politics in India.

This article critically examines student activism on university campuses in India through a gendered lens, highlighting the persistent under-representation and discrimination of women student leaders within politically active student organizations. Despite ideological differences among groups, entrenched gender stereotypes create barriers that limit women's meaningful participation and often relegate them to tokenistic roles, particularly in student union elections where decision-making is male-dominated. Drawing on ethnographic data from a central South Indian university, the study reveals how women from privileged backgrounds often enter politics through family socialization, while those from marginalized communities develop political consciousness primarily through organizational support. The article concludes that student politics remains a predominantly masculine domain where gendered discrimination is institutionalized, calling for a shift from mere representation toward genuine gender empowerment in campus political spaces.