Gender issues and the representation of women in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The descriptive representation of women in the Northern Ireland Assembly increased marginally at the 2003 election. This article considers this development with reference to the notion of a substantive difference that arguably occurs as the gender balance moves towards a ‘critical mass’. The level of descriptive representation is outlined to show how the main Northern Irish political parties compare. The article also critically considers the parties' policies on gender issues and the representation of women; if equality is a ‘good thing’ then how are the parties proposing to achieve it? Finally the potential for making a substantive difference to politics in the Northern Ireland Assembly is assessed with reference to data from interviews with women Members of the Legislative Assembly. It will be argued that the notion of a ‘critical mass’ has less salience where fundamental political priorities are informed by ethno‐national differences.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr Andrew Denham for his comments and the anonymous referees for the useful points they made on an earlier version of this article.

Notes

In the month following the November 2003 elections three MLAs, two of whom were women, resigned from the UUP and in January joined the DUP, leaving the UUP without any women MLAs. In the Assembly, the UUP is currently in effect a ‘Men's Coalition’ (interview with Naomi Long, APNI).

I am extremely grateful to the women who agreed to be interviewed, who were: Nora Beare, Arlene Foster and Dianne Dodds (DUP); Eileen Bell and Naomi Long (APNI); Mary Bradley, Carmel Hanna, Patricia Lewsley and Margaret Ritchie (SDLP); and Michelle Gildernew, Pat O'Rawe, Caitriona Ruane and Kathy Stanton (SF). Interviews took place between 22 and 25 March 2004.

Joan Carson, former MLA, was recently elected as one of the four honorary secretaries.

• ‘A public authority shall in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity –

  	1.	between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
  	2.	between men and women generally;
  	3.	between persons with a disability and persons without; and
  	4.	between persons with dependants and persons without. (⟨ http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80047—j.htm#75 ⟩)

The hours for Monday were set at 12 noon – 6 p.m. with provision for continuing until 7 p.m. at which time, any uncompleted business would be suspended. On Tuesday hours were set at 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m., but could be extended into the evening or even into Wednesday if necessary, so the hours were only partially family friendly.

RACHEL WARD is a lecturer in politics at the University of Plymouth. She previously taught at the Universities of Nottingham, Bristol UWE, Cardiff, Open University and Salford. Her main publications include articles in the British Journal of Politics and International Relations and Parliamentary Affairs.