A significant democratic weakness that threatens the validity of the modern democratic ideal is the underrepresentation of women. Therefore, parity democracy and the advancement of women in decision-making are major areas of work.
BUDAPEST -- On May 14, 2022, thousands watched as Katalin Novak walked on the red carpet laid in front of the imposing building of the Hungarian parliament.
Despite the remarkable progress of women in many professions, politics is not one of them. Indeed, around the world, women have been conspicuous by their absence in decision and policy making in government.
The gender equality index in Romania in 2022 was 53.7, a score that places Romania in 26th place in the European Union, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality. The European average is 68.6, and the highest level is 77.8 in Denmark.
In both politics and public life in the UK, women have historically been underrepresented.
Despite the narrative that women in the north are not as ‘active’ in frontline politics as women from other regions of the country, there are many examples that dispel that notion.
Achieving gender representation in public policy will require addressing both intrinsic and extrinsic barriers that prevent women from accessing not only professional structures but also social networks in the policy space.
