What's getting women into politics? 6 Minute English

Summary

In this episode of '6 Minute English,' Sam and Georgina discuss the role of women in politics, focusing on the representation of women in British parliament. Currently, about 34% of MPs are women, but many hope for more balanced representation. The episode highlights Lucrece Grehoua's journey from finding politics boring to being inspired to run for parliament through the '50:50 Parliament' campaign. They also explore the barriers, like political jargon and disadvantaged backgrounds, that can deter people from engaging in politics. The discussion wraps up with a quiz on the country with the highest percentage of female MPs—Rwanda, with over 60%.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women in politics is an important issue, with only 34% of British MPs being women, even though this is the highest it has ever been.
• 👩‍⚖️ The verb 'stand' is used when someone is a candidate in an election that people can vote for.
• 🌍 Rwanda has the highest percentage of women in its parliament, with over 60%, according to 2019 figures.
• 🧐 Lucrece Grehoua initially found politics boring, especially as a young person, but changed her mind after engaging with the 50:50 Parliament campaign.
• 📢 Lucrece now feels excited about the prospect of standing for parliament, seeing politics as something that everyone can be involved in.
• 💬 One reason Lucrece found politics boring was due to the use of jargon, which made it hard to understand for ordinary people.
• 🏠 Lucrece comes from a disadvantaged background but believes that politics is for everyone, no matter their background.
• ✂️ Tailoring language to make it understandable and cutting out jargon is essential for making politics accessible to everyone.
• 🔄 Lucrece’s shift from disinterest to excitement shows that politics can be made appealing if it includes diverse voices and is communicated clearly.
• 🎯 The importance of seeing oneself represented in politics was highlighted by Lucrece’s story of not initially imagining herself in parliament.

Q & A

Question 1: What is the topic of discussion in this episode of 6 Minute English?

The topic of discussion is women in politics, particularly in British politics, and the efforts to increase female representation in parliament.

Question 2: What percentage of MPs in the UK parliament are women according to the script?

Around 34% of MPs in the UK parliament are women, which is the highest it has ever been, but still not close to 50%.

Question 3: What verb is commonly used when someone is a candidate in an election?

The verb 'stand' is commonly used when someone is a candidate in an election, meaning they are standing for election and people can vote for them.

Question 4: Which country has the highest percentage of women in its parliament?

Rwanda has the highest percentage of women in its parliament, with over 60% of its MPs being women, according to 2019 figures.

Question 5: Why did Lucrece Grehoua initially find politics unappealing?

Lucrece Grehoua found politics unappealing because it looked extremely boring, especially as a young person, and she couldn't imagine herself as a politician.

Question 6: What changed Lucrece Grehoua's mind about politics?

Lucrece Grehoua changed her mind about politics after learning about the 50:50 Parliament campaign, which includes a diverse range of young women, making her feel like politics could be for her.

Question 7: What does the phrase 'prospect of' mean, as used in the script?

The phrase 'prospect of' refers to the possibility of something happening. For Lucrece, the prospect of standing for parliament excites her.

Question 8: What is 'jargon' and why does Lucrece dislike it?

'Jargon' refers to the specific language or vocabulary used in a particular profession. Lucrece dislikes it because it can be complicated and confusing for people outside that profession.

Question 9: What does it mean to come from a 'disadvantaged background'?

To come from a 'disadvantaged background' means growing up with limited financial resources, making life and study more difficult.

Question 10: How can politics be made more accessible, according to the script?

Politics can be made more accessible by tailoring language to make it easier for everyone to understand and by cutting out jargon.