In his closing speech during the latest Nationalist Party’s general council, party and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil declared that the party has embarked on ‘a silent revolution’. Many took this to refer to the renewal of the party in the light of the freshly-amended statute, which aims to address issues that will ultimately strengthen the party and its policies. It is my opinion, however, that Busuttil was also referring to and has actually managed to kick-start a silent revolution aimed towards ensuring that gender imbalances in our country are rectified without further delay.
I have often put pen to paper regarding what I feel is still an unhealthy number of females in decision-making positions despite these women having a very high level of education. I am often taken to task on this but the fact remains that you cannot argue with the numbers and, despite some encouraging progress, female presence in Malta still does not compare well to that of males.
I have forgotten the number of futile discussions I have attended where mandatory quotas and the models of other countries were discussed. Both the PN and the Labour Party championed themselves as promoters of gender equality but such a pledge requires ambitious political changes in order to actually make a difference.
Labour came into power last year claiming it would be ‘the most feminist ever’. Despite the prostitution of the term, one would have hoped to see a marked increase in female participation, at least on government boards. Unfortunately, this was not to be because during this past year we have seen a decline in women occupying such positions by no fewer than 43 per cent. The current overall percentage of women on boards stands at 27.6 per cent.
Women should not be regarded as token appointments
Hardly in line with what the Prime Minister promised Maltese women in his efforts to help us break through the glass ceiling.
The PN has also had its fair share of controversy when it comes to dealing with female quotas. The statute, prior to the latest changes, stipulated that when electing 13 members from the general council to the executive committee, four had to be female and, thus, the last elected male members had to concede their rightfully-earned place for females to make up the quota.
While appreciating that this was originally introduced to address the very issue of gender imbalance, I can safely state first hand that this was an extremely humiliating experience. In all my years as a member of the PN executive committee I have never met anyone who agreed with this electoral system.
Women should not be regarded as token appointments. Overcoming resistance to positive discrimination is, of course, another issue.
The PN has now changed its statute where this particular anomaly has been addressed by electing nine males and nine females from two separate lists.
This will lead to a complete balance and do away with preconceived gender issues. It will also provide further opportunity for more women to join our party because the same ideal is also being extended to local sectional committees. However, this amendment to the party statute is, so far, doing more than this.
This is not simply about addressing an anomaly when electing members of a committee. This is all about the type of policy the PN will be adopting both from the Opposition and, eventually, also from the government benches.
The PN realises that the promotion of gender equality will require some tough decisions to be taken.
If we truly believe that women should play such a decisive role in our society, then we simply have no time to lose.
We could play the waiting game and wait until the natural order of things forces the numbers into place but this could well take another 40 or 50 years to happen at the current rate. Swift changes will mean that, finally, we can desist from paying lip service to the issue of gender imbalance and look forward to seeing such proposals as those made by the PN implemented in other situations.
This is the silent revolution that Maltese women expect from their political leaders.
Such bold moves are welcomed by all women who recognise that a genuine commitment is required to address the issue. As members of this society, Maltese women are fully conscious of the problems that need to be addressed and can give an outstanding contribution in this regard.
Far from the label of ‘feminist’, women in Malta today still have to fight to safeguard their rights on the workplace. We earn less than men, do more unpaid domestic work, raise children silently while holding down a full-time job and, yet, face discrimination when it comes to progression in the work place. No wonder young female graduates are in no hurry to start a family.
Busuttil and the PN have started a silent revolution on behalf of Maltese women. This recognition of the need of gender balance should be recognised by civil society and the government and emulated.
Finally, this is the breakthrough that could well pave the way to seeing Malta genuinely embracing a healthy gender balance.
This is precisely what women need to encourage them to reach for that glass ceiling.
Perhaps separate election ballot sheets next?
info@carolinegalea.com
Caroline Galea is a member of the PN executive committee.