Women in politics
 

"The Great Local Vote Swindle" – Electoral Reform Society’s report on the 2006 English local elections is now available online (www.electoral-reform.org.uk).
One of the key findings was that there remains a massive disparity in the ratio of women elected to men.
What can be done to get more women elected? Is it the various parties fault, or is it the image that politics has?

Re: Women in politics
 

Ban men! Maybe people still think politics is safer in mens hands (I aint one of them) and therefore vote that way. More women should be standing based on merit and there own capabilities not because it is PC to do so. Dosnt matter at what level they are at they can get involved. I wonder how much them having families stop women considering politics.

Re: Women in politics
 

12 out of Hyndburn's 35 councillors is a woman - so a third.

It's a toughie because the one thing that I'm totally opposed to is women only candidate lists - just as I'm opposed to ethnic minority only lists and any other non-open selection lists.

Re: Women in politics
 

You're right there Spug! Ban all of us!
Women are the way forward.
There'd be no more wars, there'd be Anne Summers parties where Ms President of USA & Ms President of Iraq laugh at male genitalia.
As for ending current war - stick a load of preggers women on the front line - it's got to be louder than 50 armoured tanks & lord knows it'd be scarier.

Re: Women in politics
 

THATCHER.......:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Re: Women in politics
 

Well an example of what they can do.

Re: Women in politics
 

I agree with gayle - it should be all on merit for the person being selected to be a local councillor or mp or mep not on gender, ethnicity etc.

Have you ever wondered though why there isnt many women councillors? Maybe because theyre bringing kids up etc and they dont have the time. A lot of women find if they are working full time and have kids they want to spend time with their kids especially when they are younger. The ones who are councillors you will find more often than not that their kids are older or they dont have any kids, or if their kids are younger they do have a good backup system at home - husband or partner, grandparents good babysitters because of the time they have to spend doing council business. I know that because my sister was a councillor and she was out near enough every night at meetings for the council and it was hard work for her and her family.

Re: Women in politics
 

I agree with other people on this subject, people should be picted on mertit, I actually think that men are by nature more interested in politics than women, I have 2 Daughters a Granddaughter and a Girlfiend and no of them give a monkies about politics, in fact its never mentioned in my home when they are around. I have had the same Girlfriend for 17 years and I still dont know which party she votes for, in fact I think she probably votes for the person not the party, mind you she lives in Wigan Metro so their aint a lot of choise there. I actually think that Hyndburn does not do to badly as far as women candidates go, they seem to be elected on a regular basis irrespective of which party they represent, far more than my early years in politics. When I first got involved over 40 years ago there was only one woman councillor out of fifteen on the old Oswaldtwistle UDC and that was a doctors wife Mrs Pittarde, as for the other UDCs Im not sure, but the involement of women was very sparse to say the least. I think that getting more young people interested in politics at all levels is more essential for the future, as they are the future. In my youth people of my age seemed more interested in politics, With the Young tories and young socialist movements being very active in this area, there were over 70 members of Ossy Y.CS. IN 1964 alone, but theres very little interest today. Maybe its the Fault of the so called senior politicians at national level of all parties that is turning young people away, who knows only time will tell

Re: Women in politics
 

I think politics should be taught in schools (I've probably said this way too many times now and am getting boring about it). But I don't mean in the big, national picture way, but how politics impacts on everyone's life. People don't think politics is anything to do with them but tell them that it's about which schools are doing well, how the roads are resurfaced and when the new shopping centre will be built and it all becomes relevant. If they knew this from an earlier age it wouldn't be such a huge thing to pay attention come election time. Trouble is finding someone who could teach it without being biaised.

Re: Women in politics
 

Totaly agree. Politics IS important wether you have extream left/right views or not, it's still very important and effects lots of things in your life.
When I mention that I study politics at college to anyone, I get moans and groans and questions such as 'How do you manage it? It must be so boring!, I can't stand politics'. Now I don't know exactly what they think we do, but how can learning about how you can change your own future be boring?

I think people take our stable economy and general center-groundness of the parties for granted. If we had extream manifestos, there would be a lot more people wanting to vote/get involved.


ps. I would just like to say that before I started politics at college (I was 17 when I started that subject) I didn't even know what left and right wing was, although I did know a bit about what some of the parties stood for. It is pretty obvious which political party the teachers of politics we have had support, and neither of them have managed to influence me through bias ;)

Re: Women in politics
 

O.M.G. :eek: I am shocked Gayle, your views on this are exactly the same as mine, I'm going for a lie-down!:p http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1479/iagreeyo5.gif http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8807/bowroflqa8.gif

Re: Women in politics
 

Thank you Busman - see I can be quite reasonable when pushed!

May be the problem is not with the candidates but with the voters. As I was campaigning I started to be able to tell instantly whether people voted or not. There were a lot of people who clearly couldn't be bothered and without generalising too much they were usually under 25, dressed in vest and tracksuit and had a fag in their hand. Amongst the older ones there is even still a bit of 'my husband' deals with all that stuff, kind of mentality around. I was also told 'nothing to do with me' and 'you're all as bad as each other' quite a few times.

Something needs to be done and it doesn't need some posh sounding toff telling us that he wants to engage with younger people.

Re: Women in politics
 

How many of the cant be bothered brigade etc complain when those elected do not do or follow something they want? I believe if you dont vote dont complain!!! There is an apathy around voting and it spans all generations and there could be a reason for a more balanced and fresh approach (without those hated PC listings) all around. A fresh face with fresh ideas should always be welcomed an as for the part about women and families its about time the husband/partner took a bit of responsibilty and let the women follow her beliefs!!!

Re: Women in politics
 

Women in politics, i thought this was the serious section.

Re: Women in politics
 

It is. Better watch out Gayle dosnt come agunning for you. ;)

Re: Women in politics
 

Re: Women in politics
 

not to sure about teaching kids politics, as was said might be nigh on impossible to get an unbiased view, perhaps it would be an idea to teach 20th century history instead of the ancient history they learn, whilst that was very interesting to me its been totally useless in my life after. 20th century history can encompass politics and might just help teach respect and values.

Re: Women in politics
 

Sorry, I disagree (what a surprise :eek: ), public speaking is a skill that you learn as you go along, it comes with practice and yes, whilst I agree a certain element of confidence is required before starting out on that road, most people are capable of standing up for what they believe in.

I learnt public speaking at art school because they taught us that we would have to stand up and present our work if we ever wanted to get jobs. The first time I did it I was terrified but I pushed myself into doing it. And yes, I get up on stage and perform but equally I've seen some pretty nervous actors get up for their first ever part in a play and they've got through it and built their confidence.

So what I'm saying is that like most things it's NOT a natural skill and it can be taught and developed.

Re: Women in politics
 

Nothing like an emotive issue to stir the blood BillGreene.

There should be no positive or negative sex discrimination in politics, national or local or any other sort of discrimination.

Actually there should be one bit of discrimination. No lawyers, barristers or anyone with formal legal training. Words are their business and they are just too good at bamboozling the rest of us with words spun to sound like one thing and mean another. E.g President Blair. There are enough Whitehall Mandarins with the legal training to formulate new laws on the instruction of Parliament.

Re: Women in politics
 

Couldn't quite bring yourself to say "I agree with GAYLE on this subject" could ya jaysay? :D

Re: Women in politics
 

Oh come on Shady everboby on her knows I always agree with Gayle, it was just that more than Gayle made the same point

Re: Women in politics
 

I think that the reason women make good politicians is the old saying of "If you want a job doing, give it to a busy person" (or summat like that). We women are always busy, and used to juggling our time, whereas men have the luxury of more spare time and this tends to slow you down.

If I am busy at work, can do the jobs quicker and more efficiently, whereas, if quiet, drag my feet a little and make more mistakes.

Gayle has two 'personality plus kids' to bring up, job, housewife, secretary of Ossie Player and sure other interests, so she keeps the flow going and would have done a great job if she had been elected this year.

That's my theory, and I am sticking to it. :p

Re: Women in politics
 

I hope you're wrong! I'd love to be able to get up and speak in front of an audience without nerves, but so far I can't :)

I remember earlier this year, I did a presentation on Unison for my politics class. I remembered my presentation so I could make it without the aid of notes (oh how cameron-esk ;) ). I was a bag of nerves but hopefully nobody really noticed (Prolly too busy being bored to death by my lame speach on Unison) :D

Re: Women in politics
 

Lesson 1 Cyfr: make notes only of key words. Slow your speech down to give yourself time to think. Theory is difference between higher classes and working classes, the speed we speak ... watch people on telly. You will notice politicians, etc., speak slower than we do in Lancs. Does work, I promise.

Lesson 2: Eyeball the audience, looking around at each individual, makes them pay attention more.

Lesson 3: Stand straight, feet firmly on the ground, a little apart so you have balance.

Lesson 4: Before you go 'on stage', tighten every muscle in your body, then relax.

Lesson 5: Make sure you have been for a pee first. :D

Will send you my fee later .. tee hee.

Re: Women in politics
 

I can see Busman's point, but I think confidence to speak in public is a bit broad.
For instance at the weekend if I play an acoustic night in a pub where it's just me & a geetah I won't freeze up but I'll enjoy it, with nerves fuelling more excitement. Whereas if I'm presenting academic work - it's like goodbye Shaker, hello 13 year old!! Quivering, voice all over the shop, sweating like a pregnant nun.
Maybe it's down to not enough praise for academic work in schools? It'd make sense to me. If young people learn in pivotal parts of their development that pride in academic success and being able to present their work brings praise & respect then it could serve them well in afforementioned circumstances.
Which brings me round to the point of the thread...sort of.
Politics circles around acceptance, and I think that if we are to see more women striving for success in politics then it is down to existing politicians to get their game sorted out. It must be off-putting to see the way women are treated in the sleazy world of politics, the hidden affairs & men-in-power abusing their status for all it's worth. I mean look at the Maggie - she had to practically become a testosterone fuelled walking ego to get ahead in politics. IMO that's gotta change.

Re: Women in politics
 

I agree. I was taught Social & Economic history from 1700 to 1945. (OK so I am older than the average :) ). That made me more politically 'aware' than if someone had tried to teach politics as a subject. Associated with this, RI was taught as a discussion subject, where if you demonstrated a strong prejudice with a particular subject or issue, you were asked, at a future lesson, to present a counter argument to views that you had expressed. Of course, this did not change pupils opinions but it meant that some attempt was made to ensure that arguements were based on knowledge and not on ignorance.