Aims of the Presentation To give a brief picture of levels of participation of women in local government in the UK

1. Women’s and Young People’s Participation in Local Politics in the UK: Barriers and FacilitatorsDr Evanthia LyonsSocial Psychology European Research InstituteUniversity of SurreyGuildfordGU2 7XHUnited Kingdom

2. Aims of the Presentation • To give a brief picture of levels of participation of women in local government in the UK • To provide some background information about youth councils • To discuss potential barriers to women’s participation • To discuss possible responses to the barriers

3. Women’s participation in government – Some figures House of Commons • % of Women MPs • Labour Conservative LibDem • 4.8% 3.3% 0% • 1992 24.2% 6.0% 4.5% • 1997 24.2% 7.8% 6.5% • 2005 27.5% 8.6% 16.1% • Total No of Women MPS: 19.8% (N= 128)

4. Women’s participation in government – Some figures Compared with other European countries, the UK is ranked 14th within the EU (25 countries) Compared with other countries listed by the Inter-parliamentary Union, UK is ranked 50th (184 countries)

5. Women’s participation in local government – Some figures LOCAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL LONDON ASSEMBLY Total N % Women Labour 7 57 Conservative 9 22 Liberal Democrats 5 40 Green 2 50 Veritas 2 0 Total 25 36

6. Women’s participation in local government – Some figures

7. Barriers to Women’s Participation in Local Government • Prejudice against women in politics • Discriminatory practices • Lack of family friendly arrangements • Exclusionary male networks

8. Barriers to Women’s Participation in Local Government • Domestic responsibilities • Low self-rated political importance • Low political self-confidence • Low political efficacy and activism

9. Why should we care about gender equality in elected institutions? • Increase in the number of women elected would • lead to a higher quality of decision-making • impact on the policy agenda • lead to greater participation (voting) rates amongst women • enhance the legitimacy of the elected decision making bodies

10. Why should we care about gender equality in elected institutions? • Change the style of making decisions • Provide advantages for political parties

11. How Can We Increase Women’s Representation In Local Government? • Changing Societal Culture • Changing Political Sub-cultures • Changes in Selection Procedures • Empowering Women

12. Changing societal culture • Change stereotypes of gender roles • Foster active citizenship • Change media attitudes and • coverage of women candidates and • politicians

13. Youth Councils Youth councils usually describe groups of young people who come together in committees to discuss issues relating to their communities.

14. Types of Youth Councils • Youth councils emanate from • Youth service • Local authorities • The community

15. These groups focus on either • Specific issues relevant to most young • people in general, or • Highlight the needs and concerns of • particular groups of young people, or • A wider remit, enabling young people’s • ideas to be taken into account alongside • others within their communities.

16. Youth councils are linked to adult decision-making structures either • directly as a feeder organisation or • as a parallel body that shadows and existing adult-based committee or • as a free standing consultative group set up explicitly in order that young people’s views are locally represented.

17. Factors likely to contribute to the success of a youth council Commitment to enhancing youth participation rather than setting it up because of political expedience Ensure that membership of the council reflects the diversity of community in terms of sex, class, ethnicity and ability

18. Communication training Setting of the youth council Agenda setting Timescale Transparency of decision making Training of adults to understand the potential of young people as equal and mutual actors

19. Strategies for Encouraging Women’s Participation in Local Government • Changing Selection Procedures • All women shortlists for • selecting candidates • Quotas • Twinning • Zipping

20. Change in political sub-cultures • Change attitudes of colleagues • Change working procedures and • practices

21. Empowering women • Self-confidence • Possible political selves • Beliefs about the efficacy of the • political system • Training of particular skills

22. Women often regard local government as a waste of time: full of meetings with few positive outcomes, little opportunity to build a profile and make a difference. “local councillors were simply trying to further their own careers using the local council as a springboard’

23. Concluding Remarks Changing the levels of women representation in local government is a necessary concern for those interested in the legitimacy and vibrancy of local democracy

24. However the process of change is likely to be slow and complex Most importantly, research shows that political parties can do a lot to bring about change and whatever the limitations of taking positive action it is a necessary first step.

25. Thank you for listening