January 30, 2009 - "Women Transform Welsh Politics" BBC

[Captain_Nemo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7859373.stm


Women 'transform Welsh politics'

excerpt:

"The almost equal gender balance of AMs in the Welsh assembly has transformed how politics in Wales is conducted, according to a new report.

The study showed there were more female voices at the assembly than at Westminster and in many Welsh councils.

Political debates were more consensual than adversarial as a result and had 'non-traditional' topics on the agenda such as domestic violence.

Since May 2007, 47% of AMs are women. At Westminster 19.5% of MPs are women.

The report by Swansea and Warwick universities argues other legislatures should learn from the Welsh assembly.

In the first Welsh assembly, elected in 1999, 40% of the seats were held by women. In 2003, this rose to 50%.

The report's lead researcher Professor Nickie Charles from the University of Warwick's department of sociology said this gender balance had an effect on the style of interactions between politicians, both cross-party and within party.

"According to many AMs, women tend to do politics differently from men and this is often described as being more consensual than adversarial," she said.

"The assembly is a new political institution associated with a consensual political style, an inclusive politics, and working arrangements which recognise the caring responsibilities of those working within it."

The report quotes an anonymous male Labour AM who says: "It makes a difference to the culture in which group meetings are conducted, as I've said we have fierce disagreement in group meetings but it is conducted with the complete absence of chest thumping and table thumping."

~snip~

"More emphasis was given to what one AM referred to as "non-traditional areas".

They said: "Domestic violence is on the agenda, equal pay is on the agenda and all those kinds of really important issues that probably wouldn't be there if there wasn't such a high number of women.""

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...es/7859373.stm

Published: 2009/01/30 06:45:30 GMT

© BBC MMIX
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[druidity33]

1. interesting piece...

spent a year in Wales. Absolutely loved it. Didn't want to leave...

K&R.