Over the semester teaching break, I took a short trip to Palmerston North where this item was front page news on the Manawatu Weekend Evening Standard, Sept 1-2.

“Bullying and intimidation is scaring women away from the Palmerston North City Council chamber..only a small number of women are standing for local government election this year…councillors said the environment is not a welcoming one for women…No matter what the outcome of the election the council will be dominated by men for the next three years. Of the 34 candidates for the 15 spots on council only 6 candidates are women (that’s a little over 15%).

Alison Wall, a councillor for 15 years said she is “very sad so few women are standing because it is vital that there is balanced representation”. “Its very important, because we have a different pespective and another point of voiew”…But the small number is to be expected said Cr. Wall because many women are aware of the bad treatment they would receive on council”…”This behaviour includes bullying tactics and name-calling generally..The environment of intimidation with males sanding over you and shouting across the table would be very off-putting to a lot of women. They’re male chauvinists”.

Council structures were also geared against women..all the meetings are at 5pm!! This is definitely a problem if you are a parent, and especially a mother who take those responsibilities seriously as many women are and do. Whose interests were considered when this time was chosen??

Remember our question — what explains the massive gender gap in political representation – the fact that only 16% of national representations are women worldwide? We always thought things were more gender balanced in local government. But not so in this and many other cases.

How many women do you see standing for Auckland city mayor among yesterday’s businessman, a pornographer and a few others?

Would you consider standing for a local government position if the meetings were all at 5pm and the hyper-masculine adversarial culture prevailed?

Your thoughts?

Jacqui