Pols 3620 presentation Gender Quota

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GENDER QUOTAS By CHEN Ying, Corina & Isabel Naucler

Transcript of Pols 3620 presentation Gender Quota

GENDER QUOTAS

By CHEN Ying, Corina & Isabel Naucler

TO BE DISCUSSED

• Introduction:• Definition• Origin

• Arguments for and against

• Result: changes on the horizon

• The Chinese perspective

• Conclusion

Introduction

DEFINING QUOTA SYSTEM

• An affirmative measure: • establishes a fixed percentage or

number for the nomination or representation of a specific group, i.e. women

• Goal: • to increase the participation of under-

represented groups in decision-making positions

CHEN Ying

A TYPOLOGY

• Two dimensions: • where the quotas system is mandated• The level of the selection and

nomination process

CHEN Ying

WOMEN IN POLITICS

• Global average of seats in national parliament: 18,4%

Isabel Naucler

WOMEN IN POLITICSIsabel Naucler

The European Experience

An Insight

THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

The European Parliament:

19% 27% following the 1994 election

30% of the enlarged parliament elected in 2004.

The Nordic countries: Average of 39.7 percent.

Isabel Naucler

THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

Isabel Naucler

ATTITUDE TOWARDS QUOTAS

Isabel Naucler

‘QUOTA FEVER’

• A dynamic quota development happening around the world.-Legal quotas

• Only reached a few countries in Europe

Isabel Naucler

WOMEN´S ROLE

• Europe: individual focus compared to the family oriented focus in Asia.

• Education and career is often as important to male as to female, since women wish to support for themselves and not rely on theirhusband/partner.

Isabel Naucler

PROGRESS CAUGHT IN

BOTTLENECK

• Viviane Reding, European commissioner for justice

• Legislation to install a gender quota of at least 40% in company boards across EU

• The great division

• Plan suspended for more discussion, till TODAY

CHEN Ying

ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE USE OF

QUOTAS

• Quotas are undemocratic & goes against the principle of equal opportunity for all.

• Politcal representation: about ideas & interest, not gender.

• Quotas imply that gender is more important that qualifications.

• Quotas can cause conflict within the parliament/organization.

• Do not change the view of women’s roles.

• Women often do not want to get elected just because of their sex.

• Instead of quotas: improve education, give more financial support and use flexible maternity leave.

Isabel Naucler

ARGUMENTS FOR THE USE OF

QUOTAS• Equal representations are women's rights as citizens.

• ‘Real equality of opportunity’

• Election is about representation not about educational qualifications.

• Conflicts from introducing quotas are likely to be temporarily.

• Quotas compensate for the barriers that are preventing women from their share of the political seats.

• Women's experiences are needed in politics.

• Women are as qualified as men, but that is not visible in a male-dominated political system.

• Improving education and training skills, giving more financial support and to use flexible maternity leave should not be used instead of quotas, but together with a quota system for the desired outcome.

Isabel Naucler

The Chinese Perspective

A prescription

WOMEN IN TRADITIONWords for you:1. Ignorance is bliss2. “Three Obediences”

and “Four Virtues”

CHEN Ying

HOLDING UP HALF THE SKY?

• Central decision-making• NPC: around 21% since 1983• CCP Portfolio: 1 out of 24 (LIU Yandong)

• 10% vice-ministerial or provincial-level leaders

• 1-2 % of the local decision-making positions

• 7.2% of board directors

CHEN Ying

A MIXED PROSPECT

• Legal ground:• Principle of equality as stated in Constitution

and other laws• YET

• Ambiguity: eg. In electoral law, “appropriate amount” instead of mandated quota

• Lack of ratification of relevant international laws

• Institutional: • Lack of enforcement, petition, and

supervision mechanism • Lack of effective elections at all levels

CHEN Ying

A MIXED PROSPECT(Cont’d)

• Societal value: "Men should mainly focus on career and women should be family oriented.”

• 62% of men and 55% of women agreed• Increased by 7.7% and 4.4% for men

and women respectively, compared to views in 2000

A resurgence of traditional gender roles?

-- invalidating economic recession and gender role reversion?

CHEN Ying

CONCLUSION

• EU experiences: Utility and Necessity• With appropriate implementation, quota

system increases women representation, changes women’s role, AND improves decision outcomes

• Quota system as a means, not an end• To break the “glass ceiling”• To be removed/replaced after achieving

genuine gender equality

CHEN Ying

CONCLUSION (Cont’d)

• China perspective: • Feasibility: Legal, institutional, societal constraints• Fundamental obstacle: political system

• Differences with EU countries a slow track first• Raise social awareness (woman’s self-

actualization) and understanding of quota system• Enhance women’s core competences

• Political Reform: pressure on top leadership

CHEN Ying