With democratic elections a fact of life across Africa, the continent now faces a different challenge at the polls: ensuring that women have equal opportunities when running for office, representing their constituents, and casting ballots for future leaders. The Inter-Parliamentary Union notes that women hold an average of just 17.5 percent of legislative seats in sub-Saharan Africa -- a far cry from the 30 percent believed necessary for them to have real influence in parliaments, and further still from the 50 percent that would signal parity had finally been attained. Here, we examine obstacles to women's participation in legislative politics. We also analyse how women -- and men -- are dealing with the problems, so that these difficulties can be relegated to the history books.