



(Title Image: Focus Magazines)

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of granting women the right to vote in the UK – though it still had additional restrictions compared to men. How much progress has been made in terms of women’s participation in politics and gender equality?

Proponent: Sian Gwenllian AM (Plaid, Arfon)

Subject: “A century since women gained the right to vote, but does Wales have equality today?”

Summary

When women got the right to vote in 1918 it was restricted to landowners aged over-30, while all men aged 21 or over could vote. Equality wasn’t achieved until 1928.

A gender pay gap of around 15% still exists and 27% of women will be a victim of domestic abuse compared to 13% of men. Sian’s generation has been guilty of “sweeping certain types of abuse under the carpet”.

Only 28% of councillors and MPs in Wales are women, and while there was gender parity in the Senedd in 2003, it’s slipped to 42% of women being AMs; women AMs raise issues such as childcare, domestic abuse and unequal pay more often than men.

Sian supports introducing a legally-binding 50:50 gender quota for political candidates in the Assembly.

Jane Hutt AM ( Lab , Vale of Glamorgan): Wales has led the way in making a violence against women law; welcomes step forward in companies publishing pay information by gender.

Julie Morgan AM ( Lab , Cardiff North): Supports legislation for gender quotas as the current approach within parties hasn’t entirely worked, but the issues aren’t straightforward.

Joyce Watson AM ( Lab , Mid & West Wales): Women’s voices are missing in local government.

Suzy Davies AM ( Con , South Wales West): Not convinced that a law is the way to do things, would prefer encouragement and valuing women’s strengths so they come forward willingly; a quota could limit the number of women being elected to 50%.

Government Response

Leader of the House, Julie James AM (Lab, Swansea West)

Proud to have been elected via an all-women shortlist after the backing of her constituency party.

The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1970 but still hasn’t been fully implemented.

Participants on Chwarae Teg’s Agile Nation project have received, on average, £3,000 a year pay rises after being taught how to stand up for their own rights.

£300,000 is allocated to commemorate the suffragettes; female Welsh colonists in Y Wladfa got the vote at age 18 in 1865.

There will be a public vote to decide 100 notable Welsh women.

“Absolutely determined” that every Welsh Government-sponsored body should have 50% women on their boards by 2021; no mention of gender quotas for the Assembly elections, though.

Fulfilling my quota.