On International Woman's Day Inverness Ness-side candidate Jackie Hendry says women are under-represented at Highland Council as research suggests that at the current rate it will take just over 145 years to attain gender parity in politics
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SNP candidate for the Inverness Ness-Side council seat Jackie Hendry has highlighted the need for more diversity in politics to mark International Woman's Day.
She sees the local elections in May as an opportunity to increase female representation at the local authority.
Mrs Hendry believes that everyone in society benefits from more balanced political representation in local democracy.
Her call comes after the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report that estimates that at the current rate it will take just over 145 years to attain gender parity in politics as women only represent only 26.1 per cent of some 35,500 parliament seats.
At the moment at Highland Council just 24 of the 73 sitting members are women with one seat vacant – the equivalent of just over 32 per cent – however several women occupy top positions including the leader of the council and the chief executive.
Mrs Hendry said: “One of the main reasons I am standing in this election is because I firmly believe that our council needs to be more representative of the communities we serve, and women are one such group underrepresented at the Highland Council.
“This is mirrored across Scotland, with women only accounting for only 29 per cent of elected Councillors. I believe we have an opportunity to change this in May.”
In promoting the #breakthebias campaign for International Women’s Day, Mrs Hendry also highlighted the need for progress to support women in the workplace.
According to the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, almost 50 per cent of women start in entry-level jobs but that reduces to 22 per cent as they go up the ladder.
Ms Hendry believes there needs to be a greater understanding of the challenges women face in the workplace: “Women are asking for progress in the workplace, and that starts with understanding the challenges they face day in, day out and working with employers to find solutions.
"I hope to win the trust of the residents of Inverness Ness-Side to help be part of that conversation.”
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