Gender Balance in Scottish Local Authority Councils
| Published date | 01 April 2009 |
| Date | 01 April 2009 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0952076708100878 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Gender Balance in Scottish
Local Authority Councils
Sabina Siebert
Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
Abstract Women make up over 40 per cent of community councillors in Scotland,
however, evidence suggests that they are less likely to progress to local
authority councils. This article investigates the barriers to wider engagement
of women in participative democracy, and based on the analysis of empirical
data suggests some ways of promoting a more equitable gender representation
in Scottish local authority councils. The barriers identified by respondents
include male incumbency, traditional perceptions of gender roles and the bad
reputation of local politicians. The adversarial nature of politics, ‘political
infighting’ and ‘backstabbing’ as well as a considerable level of misogyny
were perceived as barriers against women’s participation, as well as a lack of
confidence and lack of understanding of the role of the local councillor.
Greater representation of women in public life is crucial in ensuring that
women’s interests are represented in decision-making. Despite some views
against positive action, the strategies to increase the number of women being
selected and standing for local elections are seen as the most effective
solution to the problem of under-representation of women on local councils.
The presence of women in representative institutions may create role models
and this is perceived to potentially lead to an increase of women’s
participation. Women’s networks, within political parties or independent of
them, are effective in sharing experience, skills and knowledge, so are
mentoring and shadowing as well as other forms of informal learning. A
number of practical solutions were identified throughout the project: an
increase of the councillors’ allowance, availability of childcare facilities in
local councils and family-friendly hours of council meetings are seen as
potential incentives for women candidates.
Keywords gender balance, local authority councils, Scottish community councils
DOI: 10.1177/0952076708100878
Sabina Siebert, Lecturer, Caledonian Business School, Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK. [email: Sabina.Siebert@gcal.ac.uk] 175
© The Author(s), 2009.
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Background
Throughout Scottish society there is an urgent need to establish gender balance.
Previous studies suggest that most of the individuals active in community councils
and local community groups in Scotland are female, whereas men appear to
occupy the majority of elected positions in local authority councils. This article
investigates the barriers to wider engagement of women in participative dem-
ocracy, and on the basis of analysis of empirical data suggests some ways of pro-
moting a more equitable gender representation in Scottish local authority councils.
Two reports published by the Equal Opportunities Commission, Who Runs
Scotland? (2006) and Sex and Power: Who Runs Britain? (2007), emphasize the
problem of under-representation of women in public life. Both the 1999 and 2003
Scottish Parliament elections brought an increase in the number of women in
public life. The 1999 Scottish Parliament election resulted in 37 per cent repre-
sentation of women, rising to 39.5 per cent in 2003. The 2007 election brought a
decrease in the number of women elected as MSPs to 33.3 per cent.
The 2003 local election resulted in significant under-representation of women
in councils in Scotland – at the level of 21.8 per cent. After the 2007 election only
21.6 per cent of local councillors are women (the results for each of 32 councils are
presented in Table 2).
The fall in terms of numbers amounted to the loss of six female councillors,
although there were some variations between councils. The Electoral Society
Reform Report (2008) also indicates that in six councils a woman is a leader,
which constitutes only 18.8 per cent.
Scottish Community Councils
The term ‘community’ is in itself problematic, as Gilchrist (2006, p. 71) notes
‘communities cannot be institutionalised into one manageable homogenised unity,
with one voice and one organising structure’. This research will focus on Scottish
community councils as an example of community engagement. Community coun-
cils constitute the first rung of the ladder of Scottish democracy. There are
currently over 1100 community councils in Scotland, and they are intended to be
‘as diverse and individual as the area which they serve’ (Scottish Office, 1998).
Each community council has a constitution, which is an agreed set of working
procedures that cover, for example, meetings, selection of office-bearers, and
financial procedures. Election arrangements vary from area to area with some
Public Policy and Administration 24(2)
176
Table 1 Women in the Scottish Parliament
1999 election 2003 election 2007 election
Women in Scottish Parliament (%) 37 39.5 33.3
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