What’s the secret to attracting more women into politics? Give them more resources
But research also shows quotas can divide public opinion, and they work better in some contexts than others.
- But research also shows quotas can divide public opinion, and they work better in some contexts than others.
- With this in mind, we wanted to test alternative measures to support women in politics, which also attract public support.
- And so, women need more support to ensure they can run for local government and be supported once in office.
- Read more:
The Liberal Party is failing women miserably compared to other democracies, and needs quotas
Challenges for women politicians
- Women face unique challenges as politicians.
- Our research shows a major issue facing women politicians is their competing work and family roles.
- Trying to meet the demands of work, family and politics creates role strain for women politicians.
Gender responsive governments
- Governments have long toyed with the question: how do you centre gender in decision-making to create governments that support women and men equally?
- To understand these questions, we conducted an experiment drawing reponses from more than 25,000 people in Australia, Canada and the United States.
- They are thinking about re-running in the next election but find managing work and family life to be difficult.
Where to from here?
- Well, it is clear that women need additional resources to remain in office.
- We know from decades of national statistics that women are underrepresented in all areas of government – local, state and federal.
- Our latest work finds that citizens are supportive of these concrete solutions to support women in politics and lift women’s participation rate.
Leah Ruppanner receives funding from the Australian Research Council for a grant with the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA). Andrea Carson receives funding from an ARC Linkage grant with the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA). This latest research was supported through Professor Carson's fellowship with the Women's Leadership Institute Australia (WILA).