I Couldn't Resist

These are some highlights of Globe and Mail's discussion on

"why women are not at the forefront of politics in Canada":

Background: Twenty years ago, a group calling itself The Committee of '94 set a target of 10 years to bring the proportion of women in Parliament up to 50 per cent of sitting members. Today, women still occupy only 22% of the cabinet seats.

- The cost and disruption to career and family responsibilities remain key barriers to the greater participation of women as candidates for elected office.

- The emphasis on confrontation rather than conciliation and compromise makes political action difficult for many women. Partisan politics, while essential to a vibrant democracy, can become no more than political gamesmanship and frustrates even the most dedicated politician — male as well as female.

- As long as women discount themselves as potential candidates thinking that without a law degree, business degree, command of public speaking, powerful backers, money . . . oh yeah, all the things that get people elected . . . there will not be parity.

- The nominations process has been identified as a barrier to entry into elected politics, as women generally have a more difficult time securing the nominations.

- Raising money for a successful bid for election is a key component for women not entering politics at the federal or provincial level. More women are elected at the municipal level where perhaps the financial demands for a campaign aren't as steep.

I want to shout and scream all those, until someone really listens!