Parliament is not once the boys club it was. Women now sit on the benches, speak for their constituents, and can even lead parties. Yet between the obnoxious, combative theatrics of Prime Ministers Questions, and the manner in which female politicians are heavily critiqued and scrutinised for their appearance, questions are raised as to whether parliament, and politics, still cater to men predominantly. It often feels as though the loudest voices are rewarded, with the most representative dismissed. So whilst the numbers matter, and data shows there is an optimistic future for women in Westminster, we should question to what extent has parliament really become an inclusive space, where women can be respected, listened to, and safe.Ā
Following centuries of exclusion, women finally gained access to parliament following the signing of the Parliament (Qualitification of Women) Act, which permitted women to stand as candidates, with the possibility of election, in 1918. The following year, the first female MP, Constance Markievicz, took her seat, and progress after this was painstakingly slow. Westminster remained overwhelmingly male, with women treated as exceptions, not equals. In 1997, the number of female MPs doubled from the previous election, but this victory is made distasteful when we remember how these women were mimicked and labeled āBlairs Babesā, and more disappointing when we register how recent this is.Ā
Currently, there are 263 female MPs in the house of commons, the highest number recorded, and we have now had three female prime ministers. In Scotland, stats are higher, with 46% of parliament consisting of women. The gender imbalance still is measurable, and women remain underrepresented in senior political roles. When we consider that parliament makes decisions directly shaping our future, the gap in perspectives and representation matters, and disproportionately male voices are being heard.
Although the increasing number of women in parliament is on the surface encouraging, recent headlines expose that parliament is very much a space for men, and often a completely unsafe space for women. There are constant allegations of institutional sexism within parliament, and it has been labelled repeatedly as a toxic and exclusionary environment. Gender equality charity, The Fawcett Society, reported that 69% of female MPs witness sexism, approximately 75% of women MPsdonāt feel able to express their views online due to harassment fears, and only 10 female MPs felt the working culture was inclusive for them – with minority women excluded the most.
We should look at the experiences of MP Dianne Abbott, the first black female MP. Only last year, a conservative donor, Frank Hester, attacked her with racist remarks, and although his actions were condemned by other politicians, no tangible action was delivered. There is an urgent systematic change required to combat the disproportionate level of abuse that ethnic minority women MPs encounter.
Furthermore, it remains a gendered workplace, reflected in the masculine norms embedded in the culture. The organisational logic of the work, which is taken as ordinarily male, means women are placed at a disadvantage when it comes to working hours and lifestyle. Confrontational debating, often defended as political theatre, is a style of politics historically shaped by men, and it rewards dominance and interruption. Beyond the chamber, there exists double standards in the media, and the online world reinforces Westminster’s gendered culture. Female politicians are routinely judged on their appearance, likeability, and voice, and their leadership is often viewed as arrogant, and women already face the challenge of male homosocial practices, which favour men as leaders.Ā
Although we can celebrate the presence of women in political spaces, we canāt ignore that this is still very much a battle. Whilst women are creating great change, and having an impact in Westminster, the numbers arenāt everything, and masculine culture is still very much embedded in parliament. The real test is not how many women sit in Parliament, but whether Parliament itself is willing to change