Gender equality in politics: Changing culture is most important – Professor Laura McAllister
Professor Laura McAllister says “changing the culture” is the most important consideration when it comes to achieving gender equality in politics.
It has been 20 years since the then Welsh Assembly became the first legislative body in the world to have equal numbers of men and women, following the election on May 1st 2003.
Speaking on S4C’s Y Byd yn ei Le, Professor McAllister said “We all know it’s harder than just having equal representation.
“When the situation was that half the Senedd were women, that was very important. But on the other hand, we all know that it’s much more than just having equal representation.
“The most important thing, in my opinion, is to try and change the culture and the way people behave in politics – and unfortunately this isn’t happening in the way we want it to.”
Since 2003, the number of women elected to the Senedd has dropped by 7%, from 30 women to 26.
Currently, the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru are working on plans to reform the Senedd by the 2026 election.
As part of the reform, gender quotas are being proposed so female politicians are better represented, although there have been questions about the Senedd’s legal powers to implement this change.
Quotas
Professor McAllister says she is supportive of gender quotas to ensure women are represented fairly in the Senedd.
But the Welsh Conservatives disagree with introducing a gender quota.
When asked about it on Y Byd yn ei Le, the Conservative Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Sam Kurtz, said:
“We do oppose quotas, because we’ve seen historically we can achieve a 50:50 split in the Senedd (without quotas).
“I took over from Angela Burns so I know that the Conservative Party is a meritocracy. I don’t think we need these quotas in this situation, we need to get the best politicians to do the job, but we need to make the job as open as possible to people from all backgrounds, including women.
When Professor McAllister was asked about how to achieve gender equality in Welsh politics, she said: “Labour and Plaid Cymru have used direct action – positive action – like twinning and zipping to make sure more women are winning seats in the Senedd.
“They’ve turned their backs on this tactic. Of course, when women stand down from the Senedd in an election, usually the person who replaces them is a male.”
Ministers along with Plaid Cymru say a proposed Senedd reform law will be published by autumn 2023.
Y Byd yn ei Le is broadcast on S4C at 9pm on Thursday and can be watched on BBC iPlayer and S4C Clic.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
I believe in a meritocracy. I don’t care about the gender of our politicians as long as they are the best person for the job. I also recognise too that we need greater diversity in our government (not just gender diversity). Professor McAllister seems to be obsessed with issues of gender, surely her time would be better spent using her considerable talents to support research into improving the efficacy of government in Cymru.
I agree. I have a lot of respect for Laura McAllister but gender quotas do more harm then good. When I vote for a candidate I vote for whoever can best represent my interests, and couldn’t care less if that person was male or female. There is no such thing as positive discrimination. Its still discrimination, period!!
Until the introduction of measures such as all Women shortlists women were criminally underepresented in elected institutions – its a rewriting of history to say otherwise. And measures like gender quotas will help ensure our Senedd reflects a Welsh society in which over half the population are women. Sad to say your ‘respect’ for people like laura doesnt seem to extend to seeing equal representation for women in our elected institutions.
“I believe in a meritocracy. I don’t care about the gender of our politicians as long as they are the best person for the job.” Maybe as well as the merit of individuals consider that governments and oppositions as a Senedd should be rated according to merit. If this is done it becomes essential that any Senedd has the ability to represent the needs of both men and women. Needs that we know are not identical. Given that we also know that issues that specifically or mostly affect women have not and are not addressed by Senedds. Ensuring that both… Read more »
Twinning and Zipping? Perhaps we’ll get Twinking and Twonking next? 😂🤣