Equalizing Opportunities for Women in Electoral Politics in Ireland: The Views of Women Members of Parliament

This paper examines the attitudes of women political elites in Ireland toward positive action initiatives that would assist in increasing women's legislative presence. An earlier study isolated family responsibilities and lack of finance as significant barriers for Irish women wishing to enter,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Women & politics 2004-01, Vol.26 (1), p.1-20
Main Authors: Knight, Kathleen, Galligan, Yvonne, Choille, Una Nic Giolla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Consensus
Elections
Equal opportunities
Equal rights
Females
Gender studies
Government and politics
Ireland
Legislators
Members of the lower chamber
Parliament
Policy Reform
Political Representation
Political sociology
Public officials
Women
Women and politics
Women in politics
Women legislators
Women's participation
Women's studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:This paper examines the attitudes of women political elites in Ireland toward positive action initiatives that would assist in increasing women's legislative presence. An earlier study isolated family responsibilities and lack of finance as significant barriers for Irish women wishing to enter, and stay in, political life. In addition, scholarly and policy debates on boosting women's parliamentary representation focus on manipulating electoral or party selection rules along with strategies for making a political career more compatible with women's socially determined responsibilities. This paper examines how Irish women politicians respond to various suggestions for positive action in these three arenas: combining legislative and family responsibilities, funding a political campaign and getting elected. The paper highlights the broad consensus among women politicians, irrespective of party, self-interest, or length of service, favoring certain positive action initiatives, as well as their reluctance to support other options. It also illustrates the complexity of implementing some of these reforms. In addition, the paper emphasizes how cultural expectations and values act to inhibit women's political agency.
ISSN:0195-7732
1554-477X
1554-4788
1540-9473
DOI:10.1300/J014v26n01_01