Acute Underrepresentation of Women - Time is Up!

On the 7th of October, Gibraltar as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held the CPA Woman Parliamentarians Conference. 

The conference was founded by female members of parliament, with the ambition to promote and aid female representation in parliament. The purpose of the event served to encourage woman to stand for election and take on active roles in politics. The women attending were able to hear accounts from the Commonwealth Parliamentarians on their experience and the challenges they faced in their roles as female MPs. 

The common theme at the conference was that either or a combination of: 

(a) women are less encouraged to stand for election than men;

(b) women are less likely to believe they are qualified for the role than men. 

The themes are not contained within parliament, it extends to any role. The barriers faced by women in their journey to reaching their full potential remain the same. Regardless of the industry, women must unite and have the courage to take on the roles, attend the events (even if they happen to be dominated by men), and be 'that woman' for future generations to come. 

The acute underrepresentation of women does not only taken place in parliament or the legal profession - it also takes place in daily life, be it in a boardroom, a job interview panel, sport etc.

Women need to take the step, make the change, we are equally as capable. 

How To Make a Difference

Offer Mentorship & Advice 

You may believe you do not have sufficient experience, skills or job title to mentor other women and help them grow through support provided. It is not necessary to have industry related expertise, or to be in a leadership position to share your insights and wisdom. 

Advocate for Others Ideas and Opinions 

Encourage women to speak up and share their ideas, show your leadership skills, elevate other women. 

Providing Networking Support 

If you are providing guidance as a mentor, it may be beneficial to introduce the mentee to certain events/groups which will enhance their personal and professional development.