POLS 2103 Australian Democracy
Feminism and Democracy
Marian Sawer Marian Sawer School of Social Sciences School of Social Sciences The Australian National University The Australian National University
Meaning of feminism
• Women should be, but are not, equal citizens • Women are entitled to equal enjoyment of human rights
Feminism and Democracy
• Both place high value on equality • However democratic theory and practice has rested on a public/private divide • This divide has obscured the subordination of women
Opposition to women’s suffrage
• If women are equal who will cook the dinner and who will mind the babies? • Assumption that women will not be prepared to do the unpaid work of society if they gain the vote
Anti-woman’s suffrage campaigning UK
• League for Opposing Woman Suffrage 1912
Australian campaigning in the UK 1909
AustraliAustralian campaigning UK 1911
• Dora Meeson’s banner carried in London in 1911 • Women will not neglect domestic duties • Will not forget to put the chops on
First women enter House of Representatives 1943
• Political equality will not lead women to desert gender roles
Table 1. Political rights and representation at the national level
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Right to vote: Most women Right to stand: Most women Right to vote: All Indigenous women First woman elected First woman cabinet minister First woman party leader First woman PM
1902 1902
1918 1919
1893 1919
1962
Inuit 1950; Status Indians 1960 1921 1957
1893
1943 1949
1933 1947
1986
1989 1993
1993 1997
Tasmanian Cabinet February 1992
Women in House of Representatives by party
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1993 1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 Total women ALP Lib
Gender breakdown House of Representatives after 2007 election
Party ALP Liberals Nationals Other TOTAL Male 56 43 9 2 110 Female 27 12 1 0 40 Female % 32.5 21.8 10.0 0.0 26.7
Women in National Parliaments IPU data December 2007
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 Country Rwanda Sweden Finland Argentina Netherlands Denmark Costa Rica Spain Norway Australia % Women in lower house 48.8 47.0 41,5 40.0 39.3 38.0 36.8 36.6 36.1 26.7
Gender breakdown of Senate from 1 July 2008
Party ALP Liberals Male 18 23 Female 14 9 1 3 0 27 % Female 43.7 28.1 20.0 60.0 0 35.5
Nationals/CLP 4
Greens Other TOTAL
2 2 49
Empty fruit bowl, Sun-Herald
23 January 2005
Gender breakdown Rudd Ministry
Ministry category Cabinet Ministry Parlt secs Shadow Cabinet Shadow Ministry Shadow parlt secs Male 16 23 8 18 26 9 Female 4 7 3 2 6 4 % Female 20 13.3 27.3 10 18.8 30.8
Canberra Times 13 December 2007, p. 1
POLS 2103 Australian Democracy
Feminism and Democracy
Marian Sawer Marian Sawer School of Social Sciences School of Social Sciences The Australian National University The Australian National University