Despite growing momentum to increase female representation in Australia’s national parliament, it continues to be a male dominated domain. New research from Monash University explores why young women still feel reluctant to become a member of the national parliament.
The research, Investigating the ambitions of young women to run for national parliament: the case of Australia, found that for many young women the appeal of becoming an MP was significantly curtailed by beliefs that the institution maintains stereotypical gender norms as well as a masculine, misogynistic culture. Many women were also more likely to doubt their ability to participate in politics than their male counterparts.
Dr Zareh Ghazarian, Head of Politics and International Relations at Monash University, said gender-based inequality of opportunity is diminishing the political ambition of young women.
“Our research shows that young women feel parliament is not a place for them. Social constraints, sexism and toxic parliamentary culture is contributing to entrenched gender disparity,” Dr Ghazarian said.
The research utilised data from the Our Lives longitudinal research study that follows a large cohort of young Queenslanders from adolescence into adulthood. The cohort of 28–29 year olds were interviewed in the weeks prior to the May 2022 election. Of the 47 participants, 27 were female and 20 were male.
The interviews focused on participants’ views on Australian politics as well as their thoughts on women’s representation. The interviews also explored the ambitions of young people to be active in Australian politics.
With misogyny and gender-based violence prominent issues in the lead up to the 2022 election, participants were deeply concerned about how safe the national parliamentary workplace was, particularly for women. Recent allegations of sexual misconduct in parliament was the issue that most concerned women and had a significant impact on their political ambition.
While the research found participants were critical of the status quo, there was a concerning degree of acquiescence about the situation. Participants were reluctant to stand up to, and tackle, the issues from within. Instead, they preferred to avoid such a toxic environment altogether.
“This highlights a deeply unhealthy element in Australian politics whereby individuals, especially women, are choosing not to participate in democratic processes. It is critical that greater efforts be made to advance the political ambitions of women to stand for election to the Australian Parliament,” Dr Ghazarian said.
The research concluded that greater efforts be made to advance the political ambitions of women to stand for election to the Australian Parliament. This may be done through building the confidence and opportunities for women to participate, while changing broader attitudes to the role of women in politics. Recommendations included targeted school-based education programs, as well as advocacy projects that empower young people, particularly women, to engage with, and participate in, politics from an early age.
“Without addressing these entrenched issues, women’s political under representation and an exclusionary masculine culture will continue to mar young people’s political ambitions and the practical operation of Australia’s liberal democracy.”
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Most women would find politics as practiced here as being distasteful, unrewarding, though some have crawled up the greasy pole. Most decent men, often professionally busy and keen to develop awareness and skills, avoid politics. A ver high number of ambitious bludging maggotty misfits see a rails run in politics as the best way to be heard, noticed, admired, followed, believed, rewarded, and thus nobodies can become somebodies, an irritating Gilbert and Sullivanism too frequent. Obnoxious scheisskerls get in, on and up, (don’t they, Adolf and Josef??) while true genius in a person is sufficient inner guide and challenge. And more than one female has been, effectively, a “female impersonator”, outbullying and blustering away, (hey Margaret T) so, pleasant they are not. All women might consider any contribution to modern life, and progressive politics is enticingly there. But, conservatism suppurates on.., and on.
One would only need to glance at the daily news to garner young women are reluctant to enter politics.
Women should be wary of associating, in any form or circumstance, with the major political parties especially the coalition ,which count among its members and alumni, lying rodents, lying cows, god botherers, fornicators, and now proven rapists. Murdoch and his minions must be chuffed about their success in corrupting the party of Menzies. Hooray.
Oooo, let me guess – they see how women get treated by media and colleagues and nope right out of there?
There is a ridiculous doctor who does not believe that men and women should be platonic friends, who cites Aboriginal communities as having secret men’s business and secret women’s business. That ridiculous doctor needs to understand that you have to have lived in an Aboriginal community for some time to understand the nuances of that. He also claimed that men want women to be “a bit more feminine,” (hello, feminism is about giving women choices, not about conforming to gender roles!) and having had this idiot claim that 250mcgs is “a bit stronger” than 100mcgs, I would take his “a bit” with a granule of salt!
Women are held to a different standard to men, and we only have to see the bullying and disrespect towards Julia Gillard to see that. Some may claim that the Poo Machine is vilified, and yes, many more of her supporters are men than women, but she is rightly criticised for ill-founded crap that she spouts!
If we examine Brittany Higgins, I believe that the first rule of supporting a rape victim is to believe them until you find that you can’t, not treat them with cruelty, and Potty Boy’s comments about asylum seeker women on Nauru was extremely offensive!
Many women who are not held to the same standard, such as Michaelia Cash, are those who have gotten to be where they are because of men. Her father was prominent WA State Liberal politician George Cash, and hence she is well-known. She may have claimed that she knew what it was like to be poor, but Daddy helped her out! Never mind that she wasn’t so much of a success in her own right.
I will never forget the hypocrisy of Tone the Botty when he demeaned women by saying that when they were doing the ironing, they needed to understand the importance of coal, yet when Credlin was called out for her arrogance and other actions, he asked if the same level of criticism would be levelled at her if his Chief of Staff was P-E-T-E-R rather than P-E-T-A! The answer is yes! And let’s not forget that Credlin is married to Brian Loughnane! Many Liberal women who are not vilified by the Liberal Party, such as Jane Hume, are those who parrot the lines of Potty Boy without question. Bridget Archer, however, who shows integrity, is vilified by the big swinging dicks!
Why would the power brokers of the LIARBRAL Party pre-select capable women into safe electorates? They may change politics and require all donations to political partys and political pressure groups (think IPA) to be be published on a public website within 24/7 hours of being made, complete with the corporate links of the donor.
Why would the power brokers of the NOtional$ pre-select capable women into safe electorates? A woman’s place in in the kitchen bare-foot and pregnant, preparing dinner then waiting for hubbie to return from town having enjoyed a boozy evening jumping the blanket. (Think Beetrooter the adulterous alcoholic misogynist representative of the NOtional$ in New England).
The individual power brokers in COALition parties enjoy their power and influence with little regard for public policy improving the life of Australian voters.
Indeed, an ordinary person could reasonably conclude that these power brokers are direct conduits of political influence that send Australian politics down the same rocky path of other third world export economies where bribery & corruption are common practice by the foreign owned multinational corporations that seek Australian natural resources and land for the lowest price preferably free, gratis and for nothing.