Global Journalist: Gender quotas on the march

Summary

The script from 'Global Journalists' discusses the impact of gender quotas in politics worldwide, highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh as a backdrop. It examines the voluntary quota system in Sweden, which has significantly increased women's parliamentary representation, and contrasts it with mandatory quotas in countries like Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The conversation includes insights from Swedish MP Ausa Eriksson, Zimbabwean journalist Tendai Marima, and researchers Jennifer Piscopo and Anna Catalfamo Weeks, who explore the effectiveness, controversies, and potential long-term necessity of such quotas in achieving gender equality in politics.

Takeaways

• 🗨️ The US Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh revealed a significant divide in American society's perception of sexual assault and harassment accusations.
• 🔢 A notable statistic highlighted was the 23% share of women in the US Senate, which is lower than many countries, reflecting a broader issue of gender representation in politics.
• 🌍 The US ranks 103rd in the world for the proportion of women in its national legislature, behind countries like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iraq.
• 📊 Over 60 countries have implemented formal quotas for women in politics, either mandating a minimum number of female candidates or reserving legislative seats for women, a trend that began in the 1990s.
• 🇸🇪 Sweden has achieved gender equality in its parliament without legal quotas, through a voluntary system adopted by political parties that alternates male and female candidates on their lists.
• 🏛️ In Sweden, the voluntary quota system has led to increased competence and education levels among elected officials, contrary to initial fears of a decline in merit.
• 👶 Family policies in Sweden, such as generous parental leave, have contributed to a more equal society where both parents share responsibilities at home.
• 🇷🇼 Rwanda stands out with over 60% female representation in its parliament, enforced by a 30% quota, which has impacted laws related to domestic violence and women's issues.
• 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe's constitution mandates 50% representation for women in Parliament, but in practice, only 26 women were elected in the 2020 elections, indicating mixed results in implementation.
• 💡 Gender quotas have been shown to be effective when they require alternation of male and female candidates on electoral lists, ensuring that women are in winnable positions.
• 🤔 Despite the global spread of gender quotas, the US has been hesitant to adopt such measures due to unique electoral systems and historical anxieties around affirmative action.

Q & A

What was the main topic of discussion in the 'Global Journalists' episode featuring Jayson McClure?

The main topic of discussion was gender quotas in politics and how they operate around the globe.

What percentage of women in the US Senate and House of Representatives was mentioned in the script?

The script mentioned that 23% of the US Senate and just over 19 percent of the House of Representatives are women.

How does the ranking of the US compare to other countries in terms of women's representation in national legislature?

The US ranks about 103rd in the world for the share of women in the national legislature, behind countries like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iraq.

What is the concept of gender quotas in politics and when did it begin to take off?

Gender quotas in politics is the idea of mandating a certain percentage of female candidates or setting aside legislative seats for women. This concept began to take off in the early 1990s.

How does the voluntary quota system work in Sweden as described by AUSA Eriksson?

In Sweden, political parties have formed a voluntary system where they alternate male and female candidates on their lists. This has been in place since 1993 and has significantly impacted gender equality in the Swedish Parliament.

What was the impact of the voluntary quota system on the competence level in the Swedish Parliament according to the Uppsala University study?

The Uppsala University study showed that the level of competence and education has increased with the implementation of the gender quota system in most of the parties.

What is the percentage of women in the Rwandan Parliament after the September elections?

After the September elections, about 68% of the parliamentarians in Rwanda are female.

How does the quota system in Zimbabwe differ from that in Rwanda?

Zimbabwe's constitution mandates a 50% representation of women in Parliament, but in practice, only 26 women were elected into Parliament in the 2020 elections, with most entering through proportional representation seats that have a limited term.

What are some of the criticisms against gender quotas in politics?

Some criticisms include the argument that gender quotas are fundamentally undemocratic as they deny opportunities for men to contest seats, and the concern that women elected through quotas may not be seen as having achieved it on their own merit.

What is the situation regarding gender quotas in the United States?

In the United States, the idea of gender quotas in politics has not gained much traction, partly due to the unique election system and historical anxieties around affirmative action.

What are the two strategic reasons Anna Catalano Weeks found that could motivate political parties to adopt gender quotas?

The two strategic reasons are the presence of a rising competitor on the left that is gaining traction, and the belief that implementing a voluntary quota would make the party more appealing to constituents, especially when local party leaders are not receptive to voluntary quotas.