True equality must start at home

It might be tempting to dismiss the initiative as unnecessary, since women already can and do stand for public office. But it can’t be denied that they are significantly under-represented.

Despite making up half of the population of Guernsey, women only constitute 30% of deputies (up from just 11% in the previous States term), 20% of douzeniers and 25% of jurats.

They are also outnumbered on committees, panels, commissions and tribunals.

These people make important decisions on behalf of the whole island so it is important that as wide a range of perspectives as possible are represented.

With an election coming up, Women in Public Life could play a key part in encouraging more female candidates to stand.

Of course, that does not mean they will be elected.

It’s not about giving women an advantage, or introducing quotas; it’s about giving them the confidence to try.

Research shows that women are just as successful as men when they stand in elections. The problem is that not enough stand in the first place.

Despite there being no legal barriers, the cultural expectations of past centuries, when female ambitions were restricted to the roles of wife and mother, continue to linger. Great strides towards equality have been taken, but women are still more likely than men to take on the larger burden of childcare and housework. They are still expected to put their families before their careers.

They are also more likely than men to think they are not good enough to stand for public office, or feel they don’t belong.

All of which is why they need a little extra encouragement to take the plunge.

But until the cultural barriers and gender stereotypes are broken down, many keen and competent women will continue to be held back.

Women in Public Life is a valuable step in the right direction, but if we want to see true gender equality in the workplace and in public office, then it needs to start at home.