Political Gender Equality

Main

Political gender equality means that women and men have equal rights to participate in politics and decision-making. This includes the right to vote, the right to stand for election, the right to hold public office, and the right to participate in political parties and organizations on an equal basis.

However, there are still many inequalities in political gender equality, such as:

• Women often face discrimination and bias when seeking political office

• Women candidates may receive less funding and media coverage than men

• Women politicians are frequently subjected to gender-based violence and harassment

• Women are underrepresented in leadership positions within political parties

• Policies and laws may not adequately address women's needs and priorities

While equal rights are the foundation of political gender equality, balanced representation of women and men in politics (at least 40% of each gender) is also important. When political institutions reflect the diversity of the population, it leads to more inclusive and responsive governance. Policies better address the needs of all citizens, resulting in improved social, economic and political outcomes for everyone.

As of 2024, women remain underrepresented at all levels of political decision-making worldwide. Only 28 countries have a woman Head of State or Government, and just 23.3% of cabinet ministers and 26.4% of national parliamentarians globally on average are women. Achieving gender parity in politics requires dismantling the multiple barriers women face and proactively supporting women's political participation and leadership.

Terms

• Glass ceiling: An intangible barrier within a hierarchy that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions. Example: Despite increases in the number of women politicians overall, men still overwhelmingly dominate the highest positions like president and prime minister.

• Politics: The activities, actions and policies used to gain and hold power in government or to influence government. Politics encompasses a wide range of activities, including political parties, elections, policymaking and public debate. Example: Participating in politics can take many forms, from voting and campaigning to lobbying and running for office.

• Substantive representation: The extent to which elected representatives advocate for the interests and policy preferences of a particular group. Example: Women politicians tend to prioritize and introduce more bills related to issues like childcare, reproductive rights and ending gender-based violence.

• Suffragette: A member of the militant women's organization in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. Example: Emmeline Pankhurst was a famous suffragette who led the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Britain.

Analogy

Political gender equality is like a balance scale. Just as both sides of a scale need to be weighted equally for it to function properly, a political system needs women and men to have equal rights and opportunities to participate fully. When women are denied equal political rights or face additional barriers, it creates an imbalance that undermines the fairness and effectiveness of the whole system.

Misconception

A common misconception is that women already have equal political rights in most countries, so further action is unnecessary. While women have made significant gains, equality on paper does not always translate to practice. Women continue to face obstacles in exercising their political rights, so ongoing efforts are needed to close the gap between legal rights and reality.

History

1. Pre-20th century: Women are denied basic political rights like voting and holding office in most of the world. The fight for women's suffrage begins.

2. 1893: New Zealand becomes the first country to grant women the right to vote. Other countries follow over the next few decades.

3. Early 1900s: The suffragette movement emerges in the UK, with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) leading a militant campaign of direct action for women's right to vote.

4. 1960s-1970s: Second-wave feminist movements advocate for women's full legal and political equality. More countries grant women the right to vote and stand for election. Anti-discrimination laws are passed and women's political representation starts to slowly increase.

5. 1990s: International frameworks like the Beijing Platform for Action recognize women's equal political rights as a key priority. Gender quotas are increasingly adopted around the world to boost women's representation in politics. By 2024, over 130 countries have some form of legislated gender quotas.

6. 2000s-present: Progress continues on formally guaranteeing women's political rights, with the vast majority of countries now having legal equality. However, significant inequalities persist in women's access to and exercise of these rights. The number of women in parliaments has doubled since 2000, but women still hold less than a third of political decision-making positions worldwide on average as of 2024. Efforts to achieve substantive political equality for women remain an ongoing struggle.

How to use it

1. As a citizen, advocate for women's equal rights to participate in politics at all levels and for balanced representation of at least 40% women and men in political institutions. Educate yourself and others about the ongoing barriers women face, and challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination in politics.

2. If you're involved in politics, work to make your political party more inclusive of women's equal participation. This could include measures like voluntary gender quotas for candidate lists, gender-sensitive policymaking, mentoring for women candidates, and strong policies against harassment in politics. Use your platform to raise awareness about political gender equality.

3. In your professional and personal life, model and promote a culture of respect for women's equal rights and participation in decision-making. Speak out against sexist attitudes that discourage women from politics. Support and amplify the voices of women politicians and leaders in your community. By dismantling discriminatory norms, we can create a more enabling environment for women's political rights.

Facts

• As of 2024, women have the legal right to vote in all but 3 countries worldwide (Brunei, Vatican City and UAE). However, in many countries women face ongoing barriers to exercising this right.

• Only 25% of constitutions worldwide explicitly guarantee women's equal right to hold public and political office as of 2024.

• In 2022, elections with gender quotas resulted in 30.3% women's representation on average, compared to only 21.6% for elections without quotas.

• 82% of women parliamentarians worldwide have experienced psychological violence in the course of their political work, and 44% have received threats of death, rape, assault or abduction.

• If current trends continue, it will take over 150 years to achieve gender parity in political representation globally, and over 100 years to reach parity in the highest positions of power.