SENIOR politicians around Australia are acknowledging the barriers to women entering politics.
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While there has been a distinct lack of female representation of the people of the Bega Valley at state and federal level, four out of nine elected shire councillors are women.
“One hundred years ago women got the vote in this country and also the opportunity to become politicians,” Cr Sharon Tapscott said this week.
“In this day and age there’s absolutely no reason for a woman not to take up representation because women are career driven and educated, but even still it is difficult to join the boy’s club.”
“Women are consistently having to appear worthy to men who aren’t worthy,” she said.
Cr Kristy McBain was elected to council with a three month old child and has since had her second child, both of which she was able to take to work in the council chambers.
“It was a bit of a shock to the other councillors, but they were nothing but supportive of me,” she said.
“People see that we’re all human with families.
“At a state and federal level it is more demanding for women and young mums who want to stay active in their family’s lives.”
Cr McBain did not agree with a quota or target based system for women, but said the right approach would be in making parliament a family friendly environment.
Deputy Mayor Liz Seckold also felt governments of all levels should be more family friendly in their culture.
“If you’re representing at a state or federal level then you can be away from home for up to six months a year so you need an understanding family and money to pay for carers,” she said.
Cr Tapscott said that while there are fewer women involved in Australian politics today than at other times in our history, it was the influence of Cr Seckold and her forums encouraging women to enter politics that has created a council with a 44 per cent representation of women in the Bega chambers after the 2012 elections.
“I feel there is still a stigma if a woman chooses something over looking after their family,” Cr Tapscott said.
“It says more about society than about women I think.”
Cr Ann Mahwinney said the key to changing the current political culture is to focus on the education of the nation’s youth.
“We must teach kids that we can all make it, it is about your ability not your gender,” she said.
“We have to become more versatile and get past the old mindset.”