Political participation is absolutely crucial in order for a democratic government to be effective, and it allows individuals to have a voice, and a say in how their society is run (Grasso, Smith, 2021). It is obvious that historically, there have been severe gender differences that exist within political engagement. However, the gap between men and women in politics is not only obvious via participation but also political communication, interests and behaviour (Bode, 2017). According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, it will take 145.5 years to attain gender parity throughout politics globally (2021). It has been suggested that as a result of gender, there is a difference in equalities and experience for men and women in politics, some academia suggests that women are more likely to engage in less visible or less likely to offend politics, whereas men are more likely to express their opinions in a more open manner. However, findings on the divide between men and women in politics are mixed, some academia seems to suggest that there is no difference at all, and that political participation and expression differs between individuals (Bode, 2017). It has also been found that men are more likely to be associated and active within a political organisation when compared to women, men are also often more likely to engage in consumer politics, whereas women are more often inclined to sign petitions, or raise money for a social or political group, but remain less likely to join a demonstration (Grasso, Smith, 2021).
Looking past political participation on an individual or local scale, there is still a divide between men and women in regards to elected government officials. Balanced political participation between men and women in policy making is the internationally agreed target that is set in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action, despite this, most countries within the world have been unsuccessfully in achieving gender balance, with even fewer countries meeting the ambitious target for gender parity (United Nations, 1995). In the US, women remain less than a third of all elected officials in the nation in 2019, however in 2020 a record was broken, and for the first time in history more than two women competed in the same major party’s presidential primary process (Nikos-Rose, 2020). Since then, there has been development, as the US elected their first female Vice President, Kamala Harris in the 2020 elections. She is also the first black and asian female Vice President. As a result, will more women, and women of colour want to be involved in politics going forward once seeing more representation in their elected government?
In the UK, there is a far more unique situation. The political empowerment gap remains the fourth largest globally, despite the perception that the UK is a liberal and progressive country, with only 22% closed so far, as stated by the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2021). Women represent only 26.1% of approximately 35,500 parliament seats in the 3,400 ministers globally, and in 81 of those countries, there has never even been a female that has been head of state (ibid). In order for politics to progress, and for women in the general public to feel more comfortable in politically participating, there needs to be more representation. In fact, it is crucial that more women act in politics, as representation shapes policy. The political gap between men and women was further emphasised during the Covid 19 pandemic. Throughout the Pandemic and lockdown, women were more affected economically. Oxfam has estimated that the pandemic has cost women globally £800 million, at the very least (Whiting, 2021).
However, there have been suggestions that in recent years, specifically in the UK, the voting gap has been closing in regards to gender, this does not mean that there are no flaws in the British voting system. According to Lisa Hill (2017), there are small gaps between men and women on ‘compassionate’ policy issues, such as what actions governments are willing to take in an attempt to alleviate poverty, and welfare benefits. Other topics however, have larger gender gaps, for example women’s views on foreign affairs and the use of violence can differ substantially than those of men (Hill, 2017). Furthermore, women would be less inclined to be in favour of allowing US nuclear weapons into Britain, as well as this, women are often less in favour of the death penalty (Hill, 2017).
With this in mind, it is also important to remember that the research conducted surrounding gender and political participation has often had varied results. For example, aside from gender, socialisation and resources have an impact on an individual’s level of political participation, perhaps women were raised to a different set of values that could hold them back from political participation that could be deemed to be ‘controversial’ or ‘vocal’. Resources such as income, education, times and civic skills should also be taken into account when discussing the inequalities related to gender and political participation (Grasso, Smith, 2021). And, whilst there is certainly still a gender gap within politics and political participation, there is still progression that can be worked on and celebrated, for example, as of the 1st September 2021, there were 26 women serving as Heads of State and / or Governments in 24 countries, which is the highest this statistic has ever been. However, this statistic is a double edged sword, if gender equality progressed at this rate, it would take another 130 for political gender equality to be reached (Un Women, 2021).
Whilst there is little that individuals can do to affect the rates of gender inequality within policy making politics, there are certainly steps that we can make in our day to day lives that will help ensure that there is less of a gap between genders and levels of political participation. Women should feel more comfortable in voicing their political opinions, and men should take steps towards facilitating that in order to close the gender gap.
Bibliography
Bode, L. (2017) Closing the gap: gender parity in political engagement on social media, Information, Communication & Society, 20:4, 587-603, DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2016.1202302
Grasso, M. and Smith, K. (2022) ‘Gender inequalities in political participation and political engagement among young people in Europe: Are young women less politically engaged than young men?’, Politics, 42(1), pp. 39–57. doi: 10.1177/02633957211028813.
Hill, L. (2017) The Political Gender Gap: Australia, Britain and the United States, Policy and Society, 22:1, 69-96, DOI: 10.1016/S1449-4035(03)70014-9
Nikos-Rose, K., 2020. Is there (still) a gender gap in politics?. [online] University of California. Available at: <https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/there-still-gender-gap-politics>
United Nations (1995). Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Critical Area G, “Women, Power and Decision-Making”.
UN Women (2021). Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation
Available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures
Whiting, K., 2021. This UK campaign is working to close the politics gender gap. [online] World Economic Forum. Available at: <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/politics-gender-gap-uk-50-50-parliament/>
World Economic Forum (2021) Global Gender Gap Report. Available at: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2021.pdf
Hi Harriet!
Although I was aware of the gender differences in politics, I am still a bit shocked every time I see the numbers. You have drawn attention to some very interesting facts. 145.5 years is an incredibly long time for attaining global political gender parity! It makes me think about how we can fasten the process in the most effective ways. While I agree with you there are steps we can all make To decrease the gender gap within political participation, I think that these steps actually make a bigger impact than just a little bit. I believe that we should fight more against stereotypes and typical gender roles, that often affect the picture many people have of women in politics – and call out anyone who presents sexist ideas that are often hypocritical.
Hi Carolin! Thanks so much for your comment! It is a very shocking statistic, you are right. I personally think that in order for there to be no gender gap within politics there needs to be changes that come from institutions, but obviously these changes can come from the actions and behaviours of the people. But yes, I do agree that ultimately the best thing that people can do is try to challenge gender roles and stereotypes in general and then hopefully politics will follow! Thanks again!