VUB’s Headline Debate: gender issues in politics

On 7 March, on the eve of International Women’s Day, the VUB hosted a high-profile debate featuring five female heavyweights from Flemish and federal politics. The theme of the evening was gender equality in elections. Co-moderator and professor of political science Karen Celis presented the politicians with gender-related topics, such as abortion and violence against women. The political representation of women is also the research area of Karen’s colleague Robin Devroe.

The political leaders discussed a variety of gender-related topics during the debate. Are there election subjects that particularly concern women and influence their voting behaviour? 

Robin: “It’s dangerous to reduce an issue to a women’s issue. Until a few years ago, it was common to categorise themes in this way, even in literature. However, any subject or policy area contains aspects that are important to both men and women. For instance, childcare isn’t just a women’s issue. Women are predominantly responsible for the upbringing and care of children, but it’s also important for men, as they are equally involved in how a family balances its work and private life. More often than not, the interests of women and men are very much aligned.”

Karen: “On the other hand, some issues that concern women more directly do struggle to make it onto the political agenda. Take the issue of violence against women in public spaces. This is a real concern in society; think of the Balance Ton Bar initiative, where young women stood up for safety in nightlife. Yet such issues hardly ever become an election issue, even though it’s an issue that concerns people. At the VUB debate, we will ask politicians to speak about topics like this that have a clear gender dimension. Of course, all political parties are against violence towards women. But what actions will they take? Is it a priority? How do they plan to support victims? What about punishing the perpetrators? Only by understanding their positions on these issues can we allow these topics to play a role when we cast our votes.”

Robin: “Just because these issues have a gender dimension doesn’t mean they don’t concern men. Men are not always safe either – consider violence against homosexual men. Men also worry about the safety of their girlfriends or daughters when they’re out at night. Ensuring that everyone can walk safely down the street at night is a concern for us all. It’s part of how we shape our society.”

“When women’s rights are undermined, democracy is undermined.”

If citizens are concerned about these topics but politicians ignore them, could this be a reason why people feel disconnected from politics? 

Karen: “Politicians’ lack of attention to issues that concern large groups of citizens certainly contributes to the divide between the public and politics. I don’t think citizens will consciously say they’re uninterested in politics because politicians pay too little attention to women’s issues, but it is likely an unconscious mechanism. Consequently, politics loses relevance for many groups of voters. This is something we need to break through. With this debate, we’re aiming to raise politicians’ awareness and urge them to address the electorate’s concerns. Voters want politicians to serve the citizenry, and that’s something they don’t currently feel.”

Robin: “It’s not a narrative of us versus them, or a story that concerns only a specific group. The inclusion or exclusion of certain topics affects us all and ultimately speaks volumes about the quality of our democracy.”

Karen: “There’s an international trend where, in countries led by anti-democratic parties, women’s rights such as the right to abortion are under threat. Where women’s rights are attacked, democracy itself is eroded. That’s why we must be extremely vigilant about what’s happening in this area.”

During the last legislative period, figures like Gwendolyn Rutten and Petra De Sutter testified about the macho culture in politics. The fact that politics itself is an unsafe environment for women – isn’t that detrimental to the image of politics? 

Robin: “I must stress that we have lots of strong female politicians, women who are doing important work and who truly serve as role models for young girls and women in society. But research indeed shows that it is still very difficult for women to survive in politics. This may lead to female voters finding less connection with that world or reinforcing the belief that politics is not for them.”

Karen: “Addressing this issue is crucial not only for the affected female politicians but also from a democratic standpoint. Politics must be a place where diverse individuals have a place and can impact decision-making.”