Women in the Canadian Political System - Essay Example

The Role and Influence of Women in the Canadian Political System: A Critical Review and Analysis The Canadian political system operates under the Westminster system, and it was enshrined by the British Parliament in the Constitution Act, 1867. Particularly after World War I, the citizens of the self-governing so-called 'dominions' began to develop an incredibly strong sense of identity, and "in the Belfour Declaration, 1926, the British government expressed its intent to grant full autonomy to these dominions. Thus in 1931, the British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster giving legal recognition to the autonomy of Canada and other dominions" (Wikipedia, 2007). There are many different issues which are present within the Canadian political system, and the issue of women in politics is by far one of the most major of all. For many years, the underrepresentation of women in the institutions that forge Canadian pubic policy has proved to be the subject of incredibly widespread discussion and debate, as have the various different manifestations of inequality that have been present on the laws and policies themselves of which are involved. The role and influence that women have played in the Canadian political system has been considered different by various personas, however regardless of this, the fact still remains that the role of women in the Canadian political system is incredibly important and significant. The aim of this paper is to not only discuss the actual role and influence of women in the Canadian political system, but as well discuss any and all other key and related issues in regards to this matter. By doing this, we will be able to gain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding on the subject matter at hand. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Canada is known as being a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with a federal system of parliamentary government, as well as incredibly strong democratic traditions. "Many of the country's legislative practices derive from the unwritten practices and precedents set by the United Kingdom's Westminster parliament; however, Canada has evolved variations. Party discipline in Canada is stronger than in the United Kingdom, and more of the votes are considered confidence votes, which tends to diminish the role of non-cabinet Members of Parliament (MPs). Such members, in the government caucus, are known as backbenchers. Backbenchers can, however, exert their influence by sitting in parliamentary committees, like the Public Accounts Committee or the National Defense Committee" (Wikipedia, 2007). Women made up about 21 percent of all elected politicians in Canada, in provincial and territorial legislatures and Parliament in the year 2006, however "their representation ranged across the country, from a low of 10.5 percent to a high of more than 30" (CBC, 2007). Women were actually excluded in the negotiations that created Canada in 1867 and they have since been fighting the laws, government, and political system for the basic democratic right to do things such as vote, hold office, and participate equally in public life. Although women have definitely come a long way since then, they are still incredibly underrepresented in Canadian government and politics, and this undermines the democratic principles of the Canadian electoral and political system as a whole. The role that women play in Canadian politics is truly one of great complexity, and certainly one which has altered quite dramatically over time, particularly in more recent years. This issue is one which is drastically broad and widespread, and it involves theoretical, historical and practical issues; it addresses political inputs, political processes, and policy outputs, and it examines gender politics at both the mass and elite levels, and as well addresses the impact of multiple identities on women's movement and women's issues in general in Canada. There has always been an incredibly significant and obvious imbalance in politics when it comes to the comparison of men and women that are involved, and the gender imbalance which is present in this area of Canada - let alone the rest of the world as well - is an issue which has been the subject of great controversy for quite some time now. However this issue has also been being addressed more adamantly lately, and in particular, during the most recent past Canadian federal election, "One of the key issues that emergedis the underrepresentation of women candidates and the small number of female MPs in the House of Commons. Surely, social critics say, there must be coherent reasons for the mere 21 percent women member of Parliament speaking for the 52 percent female Canadian population. The answer may at least partially be found in political parties' internal policies which can influence the number of female candidates a party runs" (Ngo, 2006). One of the reasons that is considered as being most major in regards to why it is harder for women to run and seek nomination, as well as simply be involved in politics in general, is in regards to the actual internal structures of political parties. There is also the fact that "Names of potential male candidates more easily jump to mind given the common image that politicians are men and the fact that the political sphere involves more men than women" (Ngo, 2006). The fact that women thus have less of a voice when it comes to politics, this results in more negativity, as this ends up presenting them with fewer opportunities to get involved in national politics overall. However at the same time this fact still does not actually change the role and influence that women have in politics, which is much less than that of men's, however still present and still effective in various ways. In order to better understand the actual role and influence of women in Canadian politics, we truly have to look at the history that stands behind women's involvement in politics in general, in this case particularly so in Canada. The very first federal election in which women were able to vote and run as candidates was in the year 1921, and during this time, there were four women who ran for office and Agnes Campbell MacPhail (1890-1954) was the woman who made history as the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons. As well, "Between 1921 and 2006, 3402 women candidates stood in the 39 general elections and won on 426 occasions" (Vickers, 1993). When we take a look at the women in the recent 2006 election campaign then, we see that at the close of nominations for the year's election, "there were 380 women and 1,254 men among the 1634 candidates confirmed by Elections Canada. While the absolute number of women candidates fell from 2004, the percentage of candidates who are women remained steady at 23.2%. There was at least one woman candidate in 241 of the 308 ridings (78.2%)" (Vickers, 1993). Even though the percentage of women actually involved in politics is incredibly small compared to the percentage of men, the role and influence that women have on the political system is still present and incredibly significant. The difference in gender makes for different views and goals, and although this is not to say that one is better than the other, the differences here are still incredibly important. There really have not, even as of yet, when we are in the 21st century, been any extremely significant or influential women figures in politics, certainly not as many as there have been men. However the fact that we are still able to notice the positivity of women in politics even though they have a lesser dominant voice in the political world than men is something to take serious note of. As well, with all of the new and improved women's movements and liberations that are taking place now, combined with the fact that women are beginning to be looked at much more seriously in the political world, makes us believe that there will soon be much less of an imbalance when it comes to gender in the Canadian political system, let alone politics everywhere else in the world as well. Another fact that needs to be recognized and understood here is that of how "Despite growing awareness of the need for political participation, women continue to play a limited role in public life worldwide. The International Parliamentary Union (IPU) reported that despite the fact that women are gaining ground in legislatures around the world, we still account for fewer than 15% of members all Parliaments. Women make up only 14% of the members of lower houses and 13% of the upper chambers" (MacIvor, 1996). Furthermore, although in the Canadian election of 2000 the numbers of women involved stayed the same, the number of female candidates actually dropped dramatically. There are so many reasons that are considered as being factors in regards to why women are dropping out of the race, and for instance, "women have greater responsibilities in their families, fewer financial networks, and sometimes less support in the nomination process among white males. And according to one female candidate, the nomination process can be costly, totaling between $25,000 and $100,000. This price tag shuts the door on a lot of talented women who otherwise might be interested" (Brickner, 2005). Not only are these factors incredibly present, but as well, there are other major issues here, such as the fact of how the Canadian political world is still "tainted with sexism which makes it an unfriendly place for women. Female politicians are described as 'aggressive' and 'shrill', and they receive regular criticisms for the way they look and dressand incredibly enoughMale Members of Parliament have been heard to shout across the Legislature 'Why don't you go home to take care of your kids" (Ngo, 2006). Thus, we can clearly see that there are many different changes that need to take place within the Canadian political system, as the role and influence of women in the political system would be able to be much more positive and effective if they were treated fairly and equally. It is actually a fact - although not really a well-known fact - that it is incredibly important and in fact necessary for women to get involved in social, economic and political policy development because, "in our society, women have different concerns than men. Women's responsibilities for their family's needs, whether of children or of the elderly, give them a different perspective. It is, therefore, of extreme importance that women should be given equal opportunity to attain positions of power, both politically and economically" (Ngo, 2006). There have been many different groups which have been working to support and help women in politics, and in particular this includes the Liberal party. In fact, for the past 10 years or more, Liberals have made significant inroads to improving the lives of women in Canada in general, and this includes striving towards making women a more effective and involved part of politics overall. As leader of the Official Opposition once stated, "Our political system is not evolving favorably for women. Canada can do better. Canada must do better" (Barnes, 2007). The Liberals are one group of people who are truly and openly committed to ensuring the fact that women have more of an influence on Canada's parliamentary process, and some of the most major issues that they have stated as believing in include: "Increasing the number of women sitting as Members of Parliament; ensuring gender parity in appointments to the Senate and to the boards of Crown Corporations; and conducting gender analysis of every initiative of the federal government" (Barnes, 2007). They truly believe that these points as well as many others are critical and key to ensuring that the voices of all, and not just of men, are heard across Canada. While the actual viewpoints and stances that are taken on women in politics vary not only from one group to another but actually as detailed as one person to another, this thus results in creating even more questions and issues that arise in this regards, and although there are many different negative factors and issues here, there are possible and plausible solutions to each and every one, and so at least this is relatively reassuring. However, as of yet the steps have not even remotely been taken in order to accomplish any of these solutions, and this is the main problem that is present. It is almost like a sort of vicious cycle, in that because women do not have enough of a voice in politics, they are not able to work their way up any higher, at least certainly not at a fast rate. Serious changes need to take place, and soon, in order for women to be able to be heard properly in the political world. When we compare the issue of women in politics in Canada to that of the one of women in politics across the rest of the world, the results go to show us that there are many similarities, while at the same time many differences as well. Women constitute more than half of the electorate in almost all of the countries in which democratic elections are held and have demonstrated leadership and as well a distinctive approach to decision making as a whole. "Nonetheless, both the judicial and legislative branches of government remain dominated by men. Worldwide, men make up the majority of individuals who pass, interpret and enforce laws. Many of these laws - such as those related to violence against women, women's rights to own or inherit property, to divorce, to engage in commercial transactions and to numerous other issues - are key to women's empowerment" (Barnes, 2007). Although the role of women in politics across the world is certainly improving, it is going to need much more participation and assistance from the males in the political system, as they presently make up the majority and thus fill the more powerful positions, and only with their backing will there be able to be any real and significant changes made, particularly in an acceptable time frame. From this review we can conclude a number of different things, namely that the underrepresentation of women in the Canadian political system has been incredibly well documented by academics, the politics and the media, and not only that but as well, "despite a poll conducted by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada, stating that 90 percent of Canadians want women elected, the representation of women in the House of Commons has reached a plateau of 20.8 percent with only 64 women sitting as Members of Parliaments. Similarly, the glass ceiling for women in municipal and provincial governments hovers around 21 per cent" (MacIvor, 1996). Although there have been numerous significant advances for women in the political world, thus increasing their role and influence in politics overall, we still need to understand that gender discrimination remains pervasive worldwide. There is much change that is still needed if the world as a whole is going to be able to achieve its full potential. Women actually make up a larger percentage of the world's population, and so the fact that there are fewer women than men involved in the political world is strange, and more so it is disappointing, particularly the main reasons as to why this is. Once this matter is properly addressed, there will be much positive results that will take place within the Canadian political system, as well as the other political systems across the world. Works Cited Barnes, Sue. Liberals Support Women in Politics. 2007. 3 April 2007 < http://72.14.205.104/searchq=cache:OVZUG9KjrQIJ:libwd2.parl.gc.ca/SiteFiles/barnes_sue/Liberals_Support_Women.pdf+women+in+canadian+politics&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=248> Brickner, Rachael. Topics in Canadian Politics: Women and Politics in Canada. 2005. 3 April 2007 http://72.14.205.104/searchq=cache:jDkWo_ED_14J:www.mcgill.ca/files/politicalscience/course06_poli427.pdf+women+in+canadian+politics&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=35&gl=ca CBC. Women in Politics. 2007. 3 April 2007 http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/map-cda-womenpolitics/ MacIvor, Heather. Women and Politics in Canada. New York: Broadview Press, 1996. Megyery, Kathy. 'Women in Canadian Politics: Toward Equity in Representation', Canadian Journal of Political Science, 26 (1): 169-170. Ngo, Janet. Canadian Politics and the Gender Imbalance. 2007. 3 April 2007 http://media.www.theconcordian.com/media/storage/paper290/news/2006/02/01/Features/Canadian.Politics.And.The.Gender.Imbalance-1595898.shtml Wikipedia. Politics of Canada. 2007. 3 April 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Canada Read More