Is there a fair representation of women in politics today?

Women empower the world all over, but where are they?

Currently there are more males than females in the house of parliament, could this be because females are not politically interested? It may seem like the representation of women, their presence and activism (in politics) has come a long way since the 1900’s; with the sacrifices of the suffragettes, empowering women all over (demanding the right to vote) such unprecedented female presence has been nothing short of positive, powerful and source of pride for Britain. But a closer look within, only reveals how far we still are. In fact, the very vivid female presence in politics and perhaps media in general has only revealed layers of deep-rooted misogyny that continues to flourish: I would argue that as women have risen in ranks, so has the increasing objectification, undermining the many small victories.

Figure 1: There are more men than women in both houses of parliament, (UK parliament, 2023)

This graph presents the clear imbalance that still exists within the parliament. Women make up approximately a third of the house. With minorities even fewer.

In 2022, Liz Truss MP became Britain’s third female Prime Minister, following Theresa May MP ‘2016-2019’ (UK parliament, 2023) and of course the glowing Baroness Thatcher ‘1979-1990’. But Liz truss has also left behind a damning and demeaning legacy (to her fellow sex)  Truss was the shortest serving prime minister leaving after just seven weeks, leaving behind a trail of mockery, and questioning the resilience and strength of the female sex. Perhaps she didn’t have enough support behind her. Reasons probably vary, for her early resignation but one could argue that it was hard to handle the pressures. Female Prime Ministers (given how few there has been) have often had to bare the brunt of their previous predecessors and constant comparisons e.g. one such articles (amongst the many) purporting: She adopted an awkward Thatcherite persona in presentational terms (flinders, 2022)

Margaret Thatcher Britain’s first female prime minister was the longest serving prime minister in modern day history. This is a legacy to behold and truly cherish. Research shows that women policy makers prioritise issues such as healthcare and the environment; increased representation of women in elected office is associated with counteracting corruption; and, states where women hold more political power are less likely to go to war and less likely to commit human rights abuses (Miller, 2022). It can’t come as a surprise then, that female presence only boomed during her term.

But we still have long way to go. There are other inequalities such as race within the gender in the political realm, ethnic women are mostly excluded in politics. The three elected female prime ministers were all white.

Could this be due to social class?

• Margaret Thatcher’s father Alfred Roberts was a local politician he was an alderman (member of the municipal assembly).
• Theresa may’s father Hubert brasier a reverend was the vicar of Enstone and later wheatley during the 1960s.
• Lizz truss’s father john Truss is an emeritus professor of pure mathematics at the University of Leeds.

What I am trying to imply is that these women came from prominent backgrounds, which gave them a ‘VIP’ ticket to become a member of the parliament since their parents were already experienced in the field. Most ethnic women, have to work their way up the class ladder to get to where they want.

Figure 2: House of Commons Library briefing papers (various years), (UK parliament, 2023)

The figure above shows a massive change of elected female MPs over 100 years. The significant increase implies that social perceptions have changed and improved in the favour of more women being represented. But it may also mean more burden on the women. Having to juggle their families and the pressures and demands of society.

The number of female MPs has been growing. Following the 2019 General Election, 220 MPs were women. At 34%, this was an all-time high. The proportion of women grew slowly until a jump in 1997 (UK parliament, 2023).

Between 1918 and 2023, 561 different women have been elected to the House of Commons; 55% were first elected as Labour MPs and 31% as Conservatives (UK parliament, 2023). But these are all just numbers on paper. And although it seems women have steadily increased in parliament, it doesn’t truly suggest their influence and power. The fact that fewer women seem to be represented in the conservative party, doesn’t take away from the fact that all three female prime ministers were conservative members.  It seems the party has a way of empowering their female members, rather than just being a PR move and ticking boxes to get the numbers right.

History of women’s involvement in politics

Women’s Suffragette movement

This movement showed the struggles of enabling voting rights for women, there were many well-known people involved in this movement in the UK and internationally.

Campaign for the Right to Vote

The first petition submitted to Parliament calling for votes for women was in 1866, which was initiated by grassroots women’s movements. It has been argued that many of these women were from affluent backgrounds, usually white middle class women wanting greater autonomy. Whilst increasingly influential, and of course a step in the right direction. Women from lower class backgrounds as well as minorities are still largely underrepresented. But the movement garnered much interest across the board; by 1914 the NUWSS had over 500 branches stretching across the country, with more than 50,000 members. Women were beginning to realise their true power and potential than ever before. They were wiling to die for their cause. But seeing the apathy and disinterest in politics from young women today is disheartening. Knowing what women of the near past suffered at great lengths for greater equality. Many young women today seem disillusioned and disfranchised. I would argue even helping the propaganda machine and objectification of women in politics. There is more to politics than “body politics” and obsession with the appearances and “gender” of women.

After some reforms in 1866 many women felt disillusioned by the lack of progress, which gave rise to the likes of the: The Women’s Social and Political Union, founded on 10 October 1903 at the Pankhurst family home in Manchester led by Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst. These two notable women lead the ground-breaking suffragette’s movement as we know it today. I believe that another revolution needs to happen. Where women will rise to the challenge and bring society out of the obsession of the female body.

Right to vote

some women and all men could vote as a result of the Representation of the People Act in 1918. They had to be over the age of 30, who owned or whose husband owned property. Also before this working- class men were not allowed to vote either. It is interesting to see how these different social divisions enabled women and some men to come together and bring together people’s political participation. However, although 8.5 million women met these criteria, it was only about two-thirds of the total population of women in the UK, there are still inequalities even with formal legislations, that is enabling representation of people that are active in electing. The electorate increased from eight to 21 million, but there was still huge inequality between women and men.

Women first got the votes internationally, New Zealand granted women to vote during 1893.

women protesting for the right to vote

In 1928 women in Wales Scotland and England were granted the right to vote on the same terms as men, they had to be over the age of 21, as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1928. This year marks 100 years since some women (not all), over the age of 30, were given the right to vote for the first time.

Although there is still an imbalance of gender through politics, significant improvements have been made over the years.

Bibliography

Flinders, M. (2022) political studies association. ‘Liz truss resigns as prime minister: the five causes of her downfall explained’. Available at: https://www.psa.ac.uk/psa/news/liz-truss-resigns-prime-minister-five-causes-her-downfall-explained

Miller, M. (2022) ‘We need girls in school to become women in politics’. Available at: https://www.wfd.org/commentary/we-need-girls-school-become-women-politics#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20women%20policy,to%20commit%20human%20rights%20abuses.

UK Parliament. (2023) House of commons library. ‘Women in Politics and Public Life’. Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01250/