Advertisement
Isabel: That's not something that I've noticed, but thinking through the key players in the debate, I can't think of a high profile woman in either camp.Should there be more women voicing their opinions in the EU debate?
I think in general there should be more women in political debate, but I don't think the EU debate is something where it's particularly necessary to have a woman's opinion—you just need an informed opinion, regardless of gender.
Laila: It's ironic, because before I came to the UK from Egypt, there was always this media propaganda that women in the Middle East don't participate in politics and decision-making, but when I came here, I noticed the same thing. The strong representation of women who I imagined within the political system here doesn't exist. I came here to find out that women are also not as well paid as men and that the top management positions are still male-dominated.
Advertisement
Yes, I think so, because women are more involved in the details of everyday life, like bringing up kids, studying, and also working a job. In that sense, women can add perspective at least to the decision. It doesn't help to only have men in white collars and suits making decisions for the average person on the street.
Lucy: I've picked up on the fact the only politicians voicing their opinions are men. Women should speak up more on the issue and get more involved.Would you like there to be more female voices included in the EU debate?
Yeah, because I think women don't bullshit as much. Right now in politics, things aren't said the way they should be. The kind of rhetoric politicians are using is not attracting the right crowd. It's all got a bit childish, and there's a lack of respect for one another. If women were more vocal, the approach and the rhetoric used would improve.
Antonia: No. My sister is backing Boris because of the political figure that he is—she likes his personality. I think a lot of other people will be picking a side by the same merit, and I'm not sure that's the way to go. The media today is going to point you in one direction, and if you don't know where to look, you will get fed information that isn't necessarily true.
Advertisement
From what I've seen on the news, it is.Would you be more likely to feel involved in the debate if more women were included in the discussion?
No, I'm not biased in that way, but it would be nice to have more balanced arguments in general, not just on the topic of the EU.
Alice: Thinking of the main players, I think politics in general feels like a lot of shouty, angry men.Would the debate be more appealing to you if it included more female voices?
No. I would be more interested in hearing people I had more in common with in terms of age range or economic background—not necessarily sex. In terms of who's got the biggest opinions and shouting the loudest, it seems like I can only hear white, middle-class men.
Maria: Yes, because in my line of work, I'm very concerned about workers' rights and their impact on people in the UK.Do you think the debate so far is just an assortment of angry men shouting?
Being on public transport, you constantly see men's faces next to a headline on the EU. But I tend not to look at the papers. All my information comes from the NGO sector, such as War on Want and 38 degrees. Still, it makes no difference whether you are in the Commons or part of an NGO—the debate is still male-dominated.Do you think there should be more women speaking up in the EU debate?
I'm very lucky because I work in a very female-dominated environment, so I'm surrounded by opinionated women. The EU debate is concerned with workers' rights and how people are treated—issues that directly affect women. For example, at the moment, the EU governs policies on maternity leave. So it's crucial that women as well as men are involved in the debate.Follow Amelia on Twitter.