THREE women vying to be the first females to represent their areas at Holyrood have said they fear the Parliament’s gender split could go backwards next year amid a rise in misogyny.
Laura Doherty, Annette Christie and Simita Kumar are all vying for selection to be SNP candidates in their areas and, if they are successful, they will be the first women to represent their respective constituencies – Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Glasgow Anniesland and Edinburgh South Western.
Having all been councillors over the past few years in often male-dominated environments, each of them have become passionate about advancing women’s rights.
But given that not even 50% of the list of vetted candidates for the SNP are women, there are genuine fears there will not be a balanced split of male and female candidates in the party.
Doherty said: “If you think about how many will be successful in selection, we’re not going to see a 50/50 split as a party.
“The number of women coming forward who want to get involved with elected politics [is diminishing]. You are at the coalface of a lot of things and you get the barrage of misogyny. You have so much more of it than your male peers.
“There’s an awful lot more to do to try and encourage women to try and enter politics but a lot of that comes from changing the environment that already exists to try and get women to come forward.”
Will Holyrood's diversity last?
Back in 2021, the Scottish Parliament became the most diverse it has ever been, with more women and ethnic minority MSPs sworn in than ever before.
But Kumar said she is “really fearful” this progress will not continue.
She said: “In Edinburgh, we only have one constituency that is guaranteed to be a woman candidate.
“That causes me a lot of alarm because we have to be reflective of the population and if we start having a Parliament that is not 50/50, that will influence policies that go through.
“I’m mindful too of the rise of Reform and the far-right and what impact that will have on policies that we are so proud of. That’s where I think I can make a difference, I think I have a voice to add for policies that will benefit children and young people and women and those who are in poverty.”
Christie added: “When you look across the globe, in some countries I’ve worked, they are saying it’s at least 47 years before there will be equal representation in national parliaments.
“Some of my colleagues from the last council term in Glasgow, a lot of women stepped down and the reasons being cited were it was just not a welcoming environment for women. Misogyny is on the rise and [I’m worried] about Reform.
“There is a danger we may not make that [50/50 split] in Holyrood this year.”
The fear that so much progress towards a balanced parliament could vanish is motivating the trio even more in their bid to become SNP candidates and win seats at Holyrood.
Supporting women in cost of living crisis
While she considers she fell into politics “accidentally”, she is now determined to become an MSP to stand up for women at a time during a period of economic difficulty.
She said: “In this cost of living crisis, the burden of responsibility when it comes to caring or managing the household falls squarely, or mostly, on women.
“For me it’s about understanding and listening to women, in terms of understanding that caring responsibility and understanding about the child and how we always have a choice between being career focused and able to bring up a child, and not both, which is so wrong.
“I feel I can make a difference not just as a woman but as someone who has a lot of experience in the public sector, a lot of experience in the third sector, and experience in the council.”
'The stabilisers in society'
Having worked to create a mini-conference for high school girls during COP26 that has ultimately led to equality networks being formed across schools in Glasgow, Christie, 58, is firmly of the belief women need to be in as many seats as possible.
She told The National: “We as women have to juggle lots of things and for men, even if they are fathers, it’s not quite the same.
“Women have a different experience in life completely and we do face discrimination daily. Women are the stabilisers in society, we get things done and we do it behind the scenes and we collaborate and work together and listen to people.”
Doherty recently became a mum for the first time and with her seven-month old daughter now growing up in the constituency she is vying to represent, the 33-year-old wants to ensure her future is the best it can be.
Having worked to tackle gambling harms in Glasgow, Doherty highlighted how a huge number of women are now turning to gambling to make ends meet, and it is these types of issues she is keen to address as an MSP.
“One of the things that makes me stand out compared to my male colleagues that I’m up against is that record of delivery and the attitude of getting things done,” she said.
“I’m now the city convener for neighbourhood services and assets which is quite a male-dominated department within the council. One the issues I’m trying to tackle is we are seeing a rise in women looking to gamble to meet the rising cost of living.
“I’m doing all this with a seven-month old daughter.
“Being the first woman to hold this seat, in the seat I’m raising my daughter in, would be really important to me.”
An SNP spokesperson said: "There should be no obstacle or impediment to women's participation in politics and the SNP will continue working to ensure equal representation for women.
"The SNP is proud to be one of the first governments in the world with a gender-balanced cabinet and we are pleased to have consistently improved the gender balance of our MSPs over the years.
"The SNP will continue to utilise networks and events to support women to stand for elected office, recognising the challenges that exist in political culture and wider society."
