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Abstract

Reeves (2019) argues that we are in the midst of a ‘detrimental democratic deficit’ in which women obtain an imperative representative and legislative parliamentary role, yet remain numerically underrepresented relative to their presence in the population, together with the continual exposure to differential and discriminatory treatment. From this perspective, this dissertation addresses the question of what institutional, cultural and societal hindrances remain present within parliamentary culture which inhibit women from accessing greater positions of leadership and executive political power. Through a constructive approach, this dissertation critically analyses the impacts of how deep-rooted stereotypical gender norms have had a detrimental impact upon women’s contributions within Parliament and how socio-political obstacles have inhibited women’s ability to advance within the political field. Despite the implementation of various legislative gender reforms, quotas, alongside internal political party reforms, this dissertation evaluates how successful these measures have been in increasing the legislative representation of women. Drawing from the culmination of the prior first-hand accounts of women MPs, the role of women within the executive and the derogatory focus upon women’s physical appearance, domestic life and marital status are exploratory factors when addressing the fundamental question to why women still remain significantly less likely to politically advance within British Parliament in contrast to their male counterparts.
Through the utilisation of qualitative and quantitative data obtained through a vast range of academic sources, it is evident despite the enactment of female-centred legislation, extensive party reforms and women’s parliamentary progression since the first female sitting in 1919, a evident hostile rhetoric towards women who strive for greater leadership positions remains. Women are faced with various socio-political obstacles as a result of the presence of entrenched gender norms in attempts to restrict women to the stereotypical confines of the domestic sphere to allow men to lead in the realm of the public sphere. Political institutions remain inhospitable for women; the traditional male-dominant, elitist culture which is British Parliament works inherently and systematically against the legislative interests of women, preventing them from accessing greater positions of political power.

Course: Politics - BA (Hons) - C0313

Date Deposited: 2022-02-18

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13823.html