Media Watch
Media Watch looks at the big health issues facing global citizens. Here you will read quotes from stakeholders as reported in the press (What's being said), as well as from Global Health Gateway users (What you say), along with some pointers to where you can find out more (More resources). Do you have an opinion? Post it on the Global Health Gateway Forum.
Women in Leadership- The Political Arena
The appointment of a new female prime minister in Australia has stirred up heady new debate about the representation of women amongst our political leadership. Here's a few comments that have been quoted.
Above statistics courtesy of UNIFEM, 2010
What 's being said:
Women in Leadership- The Political Arena
With Julia Gillard
What 's being said:
“ Opponents of quotas argued they would result of ‘token women’ in parliament who would be regarded as second-rate by their colleagues and contribute little. Its true that the quota has resulted in the election of a few dud women MPs- to match the truckloads of lacklustre males who can easily be spotted in any Australian parliament- but it has also started the political careers of many women who went on to hold senior roles in state and federal governments.” Margaret Fitzherbert, Former President of Victorian Young Liberals, The Age, June 26, 2010.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/liberals-fall-behind-on-women-mps-20100625-z9lp.html
“Gillard must have more than a reputation as Australia’s first female Prime Minister, and even as a very good PM: I hope she will be remembered as giving women their rightful place... We may argue that her sex is irrelevant to whether she can do her job- and it is- but for many of us, being a trail-blazing woman in power comes with an added responsibility to forge a path that many others can follow.” Natasha Stott Despoja, previous Leader of the Australian Democrats. The Age, June 26, 2010
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/gillards-in-charge-with-a-faultless-delivery-20100625-z9lr.html
“Around the world, gender equality in democratic governance continues to be extremely limited. Women are outnumbered 4 to 1 in legislatures around the world. At mid-year 2009, only 17 heads of state or government were women. Even if the present accelerated rate of increase in women’s representation continues as compared to previous decades, we are still a long way from reaching the “parity zone” of 40–60 percent.”
“Women's direct engagement in public decision-making has long been seen not just as a matter of democratic justice, but as a means of ensuring better government accountability to women... But increasing the numbers of women in politics is in itself not sufficient to ensure better public sector responsiveness to women's needs. It must be linked to gender-sensitive good governance reforms – understood as inclusive, responsive, and accountable management of public affairs that increases state capacity to implement gender policies.” UNIFEM Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009 - http://www.unifem.org/progress/2008/politics.html
“Some leaders are born women” Women in Politics slogan
There is no such thing as being non-political. Just by making a decision to stay out of politics you are making the decision to allow others to shape politics and exert power over you. And if you are alienated from the current political system, then just by staying out of it you do nothing to change it, you simply entrench it.
- Joan Kirner at Women Into Power Conference, Adelaide, October 1994
What you say:
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More Resources
List of female Prime Ministers worldwide- http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Premier_Ministers.htm
United Nations Development Fund for Women - http://www.unifem.org/
UNIFEM Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009 - http://www.unifem.org/progress/2008/politics.html
“ Opponents of quotas argued they would result of ‘token women’ in parliament who would be regarded as second-rate by their colleagues and contribute little. Its true that the quota has resulted in the election of a few dud women MPs- to match the truckloads of lacklustre males who can easily be spotted in any Australian parliament- but it has also started the political careers of many women who went on to hold senior roles in state and federal governments.” Margaret Fitzherbert, Former President of Victorian Young Liberals. The Age, June 26, 2010.
“Gillard must have more than a reputation as Australia’s first female Prime Minister, and even as a very good PM: I hope she will be remembered as giving women their rightful place... We may argue that her sex is irrelevant to whether she can do her job- and it is- but for many of us, being a trail-blazing woman in power comes with an added responsibility to forge a path that many others can follow.” Natasha Stott Despoja, previous Leader of the Australian Democrats. The Age, June 26, 2010
“Around the world, gender equality in democratic governance continues to be extremely limited. Women are outnumbered 4 to 1 in legislatures around the world. At mid-year 2009, only 17 heads of state or government were women. Even if the present accelerated rate of increase in women’s representation continues as compared to previous decades, we are still a long way from reaching the “parity zone” of 40–60 percent.”
“Women's direct engagement in public decision-making has long been seen not just as a matter of democratic justice, but as a means of ensuring better government accountability to women... But increasing the numbers of women in politics is in itself not sufficient to ensure better public sector responsiveness to women's needs. It must be linked to gender-sensitive good governance reforms – understood as inclusive, responsive, and accountable management of public affairs that increases state capacity to implement gender policies.”
UNIFEM Progress of the World’s Women Report 2008/2009
“Some leaders are born women.”
Women in Politics Australia slogan, Women in Politics Website
"There is no such thing as being non-political. Just by making a decision to stay out of politics you are making the decision to allow others to shape politics and exert power over you. And if you are alienated from the current political system, then just by staying out of it you do nothing to change it, you simply entrench it."
Joan Kirner, former Victorian Premier, Adelaide, October 1994
What you say:
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