women in parliament
This graph shows that women were able to move on to demanding more equality, as gaining the vote forced politicians to take their issues seriously. It aided in women becoming more independent, powerful and free thinking. This graph shows the increase in the number of female members of parliament from 1931 to 2002. Thus it is evident that women have gained more political equality over the years and that the idea of female MPs have become more accepted in society over time.
It should be noted that although the number of female MPs have increased over the years, they still remain in the minority. In this way, the granting of women's suffrage sheds light on an issue that still exists, in some form, in society today. When asked on whether political equality had truly and utterly been reached between genders today, historian Halligan said the following "No. No, [it has] not [been]. If they [the genders] were equal there would be 50% female representation in every single party in the country, and it wouldn't be unusual to have a female MP. And we'd have a female MP where cartoonists and political opposition were having a go at her ideas rather than her dress sense. I think women are under gender pressure -- sexism -- in society, and that translates when they step into politics. So I think you would have to be out of touch with reality to suggest that women in this country have the same opportunity in politics as men."(48) This quote raises the question, have we progressed enough, as a society, since 1893?
While equality between the genders has been reached in most areas of societal life in the 21st century, it appears that the world of politics still has not progressed as much, in terms of equality, as one would hope. The women's suffrage campaign of the 19th century enables this issue to be easily picked out and questioned today, with males, along with females, wholeheartedly condemning such '19th century' behaviour.
It should be noted that although the number of female MPs have increased over the years, they still remain in the minority. In this way, the granting of women's suffrage sheds light on an issue that still exists, in some form, in society today. When asked on whether political equality had truly and utterly been reached between genders today, historian Halligan said the following "No. No, [it has] not [been]. If they [the genders] were equal there would be 50% female representation in every single party in the country, and it wouldn't be unusual to have a female MP. And we'd have a female MP where cartoonists and political opposition were having a go at her ideas rather than her dress sense. I think women are under gender pressure -- sexism -- in society, and that translates when they step into politics. So I think you would have to be out of touch with reality to suggest that women in this country have the same opportunity in politics as men."(48) This quote raises the question, have we progressed enough, as a society, since 1893?
While equality between the genders has been reached in most areas of societal life in the 21st century, it appears that the world of politics still has not progressed as much, in terms of equality, as one would hope. The women's suffrage campaign of the 19th century enables this issue to be easily picked out and questioned today, with males, along with females, wholeheartedly condemning such '19th century' behaviour.