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Welcome to the website for Women in Leadership Network where you will find regular updates and information on the work of this project. Please read a message from our Chairperson, Benedicta Attoh.
It is no exaggeration to say that progress for women in electoral politics all over the world has been painfully slow. In Ireland, an enormous gender balance still exists in our national Parliament and on local authorities. Without support, progress will continue to be lethargic at best, therefore to reach a much fairer and equitable balance of gender representation than that which currently exists; the very real barriers on the road to the full participation by women in the electoral process must be addressed.
According to Nessa Childers, an MEP from Ireland East, “The culture of how we conduct the business of representative politics in Ireland often militates against women at a very deep level. Getting selected to run is an art form in itself and a dog-eat-dog business. Actual elections themselves are financially onerous, bruising encounters where 100% focus and discipline is required to win a seat and hold on to it”.
Such are the demands that there is little time for anything else other than politics. And one often gets the feeling that the system we operate in is one designed by men, largely for men where the odds are almost always stacked against you as a woman.
No one should make any mistake about it; Irish politics is still largely the preserve of men and anyone who disputes this only has to look at the figures. Without proper structures, we will continue to be a long way from a system which genuinely delivers fair representation for women. Only 13% of Irish Parliamentarians are women, compared to 18% globally. Only 16% of County and City Councilors are women. There is an indisputable and unacceptable gender imbalance in terms of political representation in Ireland.
Another female MEP Mairead McGuinness representing Ireland East said “there is a glaring gap between men and women in the under representation of women in politics. She continued, “you would have to question the effectiveness of a democracy where 52pc of the population is not represented at the decision making table,” she said.
Meaningful and decisive actions are demanded if this situation is to be prevented from continuing. With more women candidates the electorate would have more choice and women would have more opportunities.
At Women in Leadership Network, we believe that to re-balance the representation of women and men would essentially take the guts of a generation. If we are to properly tackle gender inequality, we need more women at the decision making table, mapping our political, social, economic and cultural future. This is only fair, reasonable and just. |
