SCOTTISH political parties need to address gender inequality that see politics “rooted in the past” leading feminist organisations have claimed.
The call has been sparked by the resignation of Ruth Davidson as Scottish Tory leader, citing both professional and personal reasons.
Her resignation came hours after Boris Johnson moved to prorogue Parliament. Davidson also backed Jeremy Hunt in his Tory leadership bid and has publicly opposed No Deal, leading many to speculate her decision was politically motivated.
However, others said her admission that the thought of long hours campaigning on the road – away from her baby and partner – filled her with dread, hit a chord, with many women struggling to manage family life and politics.
Emma Ritch, chief executive of Engender, said: “Women face countless barriers in entering, and succeeding, in politics. From sexism and harassment to outdated structures that were shaped around men’s lives, it is little wonder we have still not achieved gender parity in our political parties or democratic institutions.
“Davidson’s resignation, citing the difficulties of leading a party and maintaining a family life, highlights one of the biggest barriers to political equality remains the inflexibility of our political systems to account for care-giving responsibilities.”
Women remain the primary care-givers for children and for older people and undertake the majority of housework, she added.
“While this persists, and while the day-to-day business of politics remains rooted in the past – from timings of meetings to expectations of volunteers – we will continue to see over-representation of men in positions of power,” she said.
“We hope Davidson’s resignation will offer an opportunity for all political parties in Scotland, not just the Conservatives, to reflect on what more they can be doing to ensure that their members do not have to choose between a political career and other important relationships.”
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