Last year on International Women’s Day EAB asked if we have enough female politicians to fairly represent women’s views and issues. The answer was no. We found that in East Anglia “only 29% of MPs are female… All six Police & Crime Commissioners are men. In local politics…only 30% of East of England councillors are women.” We investigated the reasons, and why it matters.
In 2018 the Fawcett Society had published research which found barriers hampering women from even becoming councillors and MPs. Now the Society has published a new study, A House for Everyone, on what happens to women after being elected. The findings were stark: there are still structural problems making it hard for them to do the job.
Men don’t always notice sexism?
For the study, the Society carried out anonymous surveys and in-depth MP interviews. The different perceptions of male and female politicians were striking. Answering whether they had witnessed sexist behaviour in the last five years, more than two thirds of female Parliamentarians agreed. Far fewer men (38%) said yes. Why? Possibly because of research quoted in the report that men are “less likely to notice sexism and/or those who observe sexism are less likely to consider it as such.”
When asked if Parliament’s culture was inclusive for people like them, only 37% of women agreed, compared to over half of men (55%).
Male culture
Nearly all women MPs said that online harassment or abuse made them feel negatively about the job. It was an issue for three quarters of men too, but women described their abuse as highly gendered and misogynistic, with threats of sexual violence. Three quarters of female MPs, but only half of men, reported they “do not use social media to speak on certain issues because of the abusive environment online”. Female politicians often fear for their safety while doing their job.
A woman MP described Parliament as an all-boys club. Harassment from colleagues such as inappropriate touching and comments, and double standards, were hard to challenge due to a culture of impunity among some men.
Yet one female MP told Fawcett there was still no leadership from the top “to crack down on sexism and harassment and abuse”.
Push and pull factors
The job does have many “pull factors”, including a desire to serve the country. However, the issues described above, plus huge workloads and unpredictable hours, are “push factors” which can make MPs feel like quitting. The Fawcett Society makes many recommendations to encourage women to stay, including:
- instituting comprehensive support focused on mental health and wellbeing;
- reviewing sexual harassment and complaints policies to cover all employees, and being “quick, victim-focused and independent”;
- covering MPs’ childcare costs for after-hours sessions, and establishing greater certainty in sitting hours to improve work-life balance;
- reviewing whether there are grounds to exclude for a time those MPs under investigation for sexual misconduct;
- amending the Online Safety Bill to deal with the greater incidence of online abuse towards women.
Leading the way
Parliament should set an example, not just in terms of fair representation, but also in how to behave, and how to treat employees. Instead, it often seems to simply mirror inequalities and prejudices still common in wider society. Fawcett concludes: “The systems, workload, culture and abuse … act as substantial barriers to women’s participation in politics and can push MPs … to leave Westminster prematurely.”
MPs should reflect society. Historically, they were all privileged and powerful men. Centuries later, men still make up two thirds of members, and three quarters of the governing Conservative party. This imbalance influences the culture. Progress depends on improving recruitment and retention for women to even the gender balance, and having a vigorously enforced code of behaviour set from the top.
The country needs “A House for Everyone”, without delay.
