📰| 9. Representation of Women & Minorities

Question 1

Reasons Why Women Are Well Represented

Answer 1

• Child Friendly Hours
• Additional Member System
• Role Models

Question 2

Reasons Why Women Are Not Well Represented

Answer 2

• Lack of Accommodation for Childcare
• Sexism

Question 3

Reasons Why Minority Ethnic Groups Are Not Well Represented

Answer 3

• Lack of Role Models
• Discrimination from Parties

Question 4

Reasons Why Disabled People Are Not Well Represented

Answer 4

• Lack of Role Models
• Lack of Accessibility

Question 5

Representation (Women, well represented):

Child Friendly Hours

Answer 5

• One reason that women are well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to child friendly hours.
• Holyrood’s working hours are more family friendly, which allows women time for their MSP commitments as well as childcare duties.
• For example, current MSP Meghan Gallacher took maternity leave for the birth of her child and continues to work as an MSP within the Scottish Parliament.

Question 6

Representation (Women, well represented):

Additional Member System

Answer 6

• One reason that women are well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to the additional member system.
• The additional member system allows for parties to create lists of potential seat winners, with the highest on the list earning seats first based on regional votes - this gives women a more equal chance of securing a seat in the Scottish Parliament.
• For example, the SNP has two lists - a gender balanced list and an all-female list.

Question 7

Representation (Women, well represented):

Role Models

Answer 7

• One reason that women are well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to role models.
• Women’s representation in the Scottish Parliament has increased significantly over the years, which allows for current female MSPs to act as role models for potential female candidates and therefore increase women going into politics.
• For example, currently 45% of MSPs are female which allows for a great number of role models.

Question 8

Representation (Women, not well represented):

Lack of Accommodation for Childcare

Answer 8

• One reason that women are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to a lack of accomodation for childcare.
• Work within the Scottish Parliament is very full-on and can involve a lot of travel and time, which means that some women may struggle to balance this and family life.
• For example, MSP Aileen Campbell resigned at the 2021 election to spend more time with family.

Question 9

Representation (Women, not well represented):

Sexism

Answer 9

• One reason that women are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to sexism.
• Sexism is unfortunately very prominent for females in politics, particularly within the media, which can be incredibly distressing and off-putting for female MSPs.
• For example, the Daily Mail published a sexist headline in 2017 regarding a photo of Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon.

Question 10

Representation (Minority ethnic backgrounds, not well represented):

Lack of Role Models

Answer 10

• One reason that people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to a lack of role models.
• People from minority ethnic backgrounds make up a very small number of MSPs, which means that there is a lack of role models for potential candidates who are from minority ethnic backgrounds.
• For example, compared to a 4% make up of Scotland’s population, from 1999-2021 only 4 MSPs were from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Question 11

Representation (Minority ethnic backgrounds, not well represented):

Discrimination from Parties

Answer 11

• One reason that people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to party discrimination.
• Sometimes, parties will not choose candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds on purpose as they believe that they will not be voted for at the ballot box.
• For example, there are currently no MSPs representing the North East Scotland region from a minority ethnic background.

Question 12

Representation (People with disabilities, not well represented):

Lack of Role Models

Answer 12

• One reason that people with disabilities are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to a lack of role models.
• People with disabilities have remained consistently under-represented in the Scottish Parliament, which means that there is a lack of role models to encourage people with disabilities to go into politics.
• For example, there is only 1 MSP with a disability in the Scottish Parliament - Pam Duncan-Glacy.

Question 13

Representation (People with disabilities, not well represented):

Lack of Accessibility

Answer 13

• One reason why people with disabilities are not well represented in the Scottish Parliament is due to a lack of accessibility.
• Transport and general function can be more challenging as someone with a disability, which may discourage disabled people from taking on a job in politics. A lack of accessibility can also make a job in politics less achievable.