Through suffragettes and modern-day feminism, women and men have campaigned fiercely and long for women’s right to vote and hold office.
Improvement is evident. As of 2015, women in every country worldwide have the freedom to vote; New Zealand was the first nation to grant women the right to vote in 1893, and Saudi Arabia was the last in 2015. Today, a majority of countries are governed by women, and some nations, such as Finland, also have a woman-dominated cabinet.
These developments have been made possible in large part by gender equity initiatives. In the Arab world, where development has been sluggish; the introduction of quotas by 12 countries has helped raise the number of women in parliaments from 10% to 18% between 2012 and 2017.
Growth is sluggish and inconsistent, though. Females are also underrepresented in governments, parliaments, and public life. Females make up less than 23 percent of Parliamentarians, with an average of 18 percent in the Arab world; while men make up more than 77 percent, leaving more than 50 percent of the gender gap.
How is this still a problem for 2020?
When we think about women’s political engagement, it’s easy for us to picture the vacant chairs at the decision-making table; only a bit more difficult to consider the other barriers and difficulties people face in getting into those positions. There is increasing concern that women will be excluded from political and public life in 2020.
Over the past two years, we’ve seen this happen over high-profile polls in the US and around the world. Females are making more and more decisions, and their numbers are still well behind those of men.
How is this the case? While it is generally acknowledged that progress, stability, and growth can not be accomplished in communities without half of the world ‘s population, women continue to be held back in decision making.
The rejection against women in politics is still alive and well. They continue to face political, socio-economic, social, and cultural obstacles.
Tackling these barriers involves efforts on the part of every element of society; whether it is government, civil society, the media, academia, the private sector, youth, or even men.
Photo de August de Richelieu provenant de Pexels
