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Women lag behind men in top positions

Thursday, 13 March 2008

WOMEN are still shying away from top posts such as senior management roles in Dublin City Council according to a new report.
The study - ‘Every Step Of The Way, Women Accessing Power in Dublin City’ - was published last week to mark International Women’s Day.
According to the report, compiled by a working group made up of female councillors, women are still trapped by a ‘glass ceiling’.
“An examination of national and regional decision-making structures revealed that despite women’s increased labour market activity and educational attainments, the balance of power remains with men,” it was stated.
“Just 13 per cent of elected representatives in Dáil Éireann are women, while only 20 per cent of councillors at local level are women.”
Out of a total of 226 TDs and Seantors 35 are women. The study found that there is still evidence of ‘gender imbalances’ at city council level.
“The Dublin City Development Board in 2007 consists of 28 members, six (or 21 per cent) of whom are women,” it was explained.
“The six Strategic Policy Committees (SPC) of Dublin City Council who fulfil an important function for the city across a wide range of policy areas consist of a total of 90 positions, 28 of which are occupied by women.”
It was added: “The work of the SPC is fed into the Corporate Policy Group (CPG), which is entirely made up of men.”
The study noted that the council’s senior management still indicated an environment of gender imbalances.
Dublin City Council employs around 3,000 general operatives and almost 1,000 Fire Brigade personnel.
“These occupations are made up of 12 per cent and three per cent women respectively,” it was revealed.
According to the 18 female councillors who contributed to the report, it is imperative that women take their place at the decision making table.
“There was a consensus that women brought a necessary and different perspective to issues,” it was stated.
“The presence of women was described as akin to ‘two heads are better than one’.
“Some research participants felt that women influenced not only the content of decision but the process of decisions also.”
According to the report, there are still barriers which deter women from politics and other decision-making careers and positions.
Among the constraints mentioned were: structural and institutional discrimination; financial barriers; lower levels of confidence; education; training; capacity-building; and childcare.
Dublin Central councillor Emer Costello (Lab) was the chairperson of the working group responsible for the report.
“The findings of this study make for very interesting reading,” she said.
“While there is so much to celebrate in achievements of women in all walks of life throughout the city, it is clear that there are still significant inequalities.
“The International Women’s Day Working Group is now seeking to be established on a permanent basis, to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report and to ensure that International Women’s Day is permanently etched into the political, social, economic and cultural calendar of the city.”
The report backs up findings from a recent study by the European Commission where it was found that women in Europe are still shut out of top positions in politics and business.
According to Ruth Deasy from the European Commission, the number of women in Irish politics is ‘exceptionally low’ compared with other northern European countries.
“In Ireland, inequality starts at the lowest strata of local decision-making, the VEC committees, which are the training grounds for future politicians,” she said.
“Another factor discouraging women from entering politics is the TD lifestyle which makes heavy demands on family life.”

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