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Joanna McKay
The increase in the number of women MPs in many countries in recent years suggests that it is easier for women to enter politics nowadays than used to be the case. However, this does not mean that it is a level-playing field once they get there. Women still have to contend with prejudice and discrimination, antiquated practices, an alien culture, and a routine and timetable far more suited to male lifestyles. This article focuses on the additional challenges faced by women who combine a political career with motherhood. A big question it seeks to answer is whether or not it is easier for women to break through the political ‘glass ceiling’ and compete with men so long as they can act like men, for example staying late, and working weekends. The article examines the experiences of women MPs in two countries, namely the UK and Germany, looking at both the national and sub-national levels. It draws on information collected from female parliamentarians via face-to-face interviews and written questionnaires. The evidence suggests that it is easier for women to break through the political ‘glass ceiling’ if they can fit into the existing male-dominated parliamentary culture. Thus, many female MPs with family responsibilities face additional problems on top of those faced by women generally in the political workplace. This suggests that on their own, measures such as quotas are not sufficient to enable female politicians to ‘have it all’ as their male counterparts typically can. Other changes to parliamentary practices will be necessary to make politics a career that is genuinely open to all.
