Any article about why more women don’t run to be YUSU President is bound to be met by cries of ‘No one’s stopping women running! If women want to run, they can. It’s a free country.’ But the facts are that eight of the nine current presidential candidates are men, the last female president was Anne-Marie Canning in 2007/08, and all presidents since Canning have been men. Odd, that in a free country, in a university where any student can run to be YUSU President and 55% of those students are women, the people who run for and win elections turn out to be men.
So why don’t women run?
Sadly, we still live in a patriarchal society, and the way in which we bring up girls reflects that. Girls are expected to be kind, sweet and helpful, whilst boys are given licence to be loud, excitable and boisterous. Girls’ achievement in school is constantly undermined by articles bemoaning ‘male underachievement’, rather than celebrating female success. The message is that girls are expected to do well at tasks, but not to shout about it when they succeed. No wonder that by the time they get to university, they have internalised the message that positions of leadership are not for them – better to move over and give someone else the limelight.
It doesn’t help that university isn’t exactly a pro-woman environment. You may have seen the online noise about Freshers’ Week Sexism in autumn 2013, and many of you will have experienced it – I know I did in my first week of university. And once you have got past the sexist chants, groping in clubs and general unpleasantness that marks Freshers’ Week for many, in seminars female students will find themselves interrupted, talked over and side-lined. Often women don’t have the confidence to voice their opinions.
In second year I was in a class of 15 students, only two of whom were male. Somehow, the only people who ever spoke were the two male students and myself. I am yet to hear a male student in a seminar preface a statement with ‘I might be wrong’, but this is common amongst female students. If women don’t feel able to express their views in a room of 15 people, small wonder they don’t want to put themselves in the public eye for well over a year.
And maybe women don’t run because they just don’t see other women in positions of power. In universities, only one in five professors is female; women make up only 22% of the House of Commons; four FTSE 100 chief execs are women. In this context is the lack of female YUSU presidents makes perfect sense: society does not expect women to be leaders. Those who dare to hold those positions experience abuse and scrutiny unheard of for men in power.
It is perfectly true that women are just as capable of running for and being YUSU President as men. However, sexist and patriarchal as it is, this country might not be quite so free after all.
For more info and to see Vision’s infographic, click HERE
Any article written by a woman about why more women don’t run to be YUSU President is bound to use the bogeyman of patriarchy. Shit, by saying bogeyman instead of bogeyperson I’ve just proven you’re right.
Gender accessible politics, York Feminists, York Feminist Society, Women’s committee, Women’s Network Two Women’s Officers (who’s job it is to get women represented and represent women), A female Activities officer, A female Sports Officer, This year all candidates for Welfare are Female. Regular campaigns including York needs Feminism, York Needs GAP, 1 billion Rising, V day and two news papers that write more feminist articles per week than most students have hot meals.
Its a shame more Women dont run for YUSU pres, but if your going to use that specific case to talk about how marginalised women are at York, the wider picture somewhat disagree’s.
Some of your comments are wildly speculative.
By saying that you go to a seminar, and 13/15 are female can be interpreted itself as being a positive for women at this university. It shows that women are pushing harder to get into university, being more hard-working and driven.
Although there is clearly an issue with the amount of female presidential candidates, you’re reasoning for it is absolutely shambolic.
If I had to given a reason why women don’t run, off the top of my head, I would say skeptical, jumped up student reporters like you, writing articles like this.
The way this is written seems like a dig at men. You cannot blame men for saying “I might be wrong”. Also, you cannot take one piddly seminar group, from a course which i assume is psychology (or something equally unintelligent judging from this article) and judge the whole university on it.
Maybe do some actual research before you start writing frivolous nonsense.
@Society, I’d like to see your reasoning behind that argument – that the proliferation of women’s and feminist groups, campaigns and articles about feminism means women aren’t marginalised at York. An alternative interpretation might be that if women weren’t marginalised there would be no demand for even one group or campaign let alone several, therefore the amount of them indicates women *do* feel marginalised at York.
My experiences at York mirror Saskias, and we are certainly not alone in that. Since moving to a university with a very different attitude to gender, feminism and broader liberation issues, York stands as a horribly hostil environment in comparison.
Finally, I’ve seen your thinly-veiled criticism of women’s officers not doing their job properly several times in the past week or so. Women’s officers ‘jobs’ aren’t just to get more women represented, it is a broad and demanding role that often involves an uphill battle. During my time at York, the women’s officers did run a workshop for women encouraging them to run in elections; they do a lot more, too, and in a hugely hostile environment.
Oh and I meant to say the total Yusu election Candidates ratio, Girls to boys is 11:18 excluding Joke candidates its 11:16. Excluding YUSU president its 7:9. Furthermore consider the fast that two positions in YUSU are Specifically women’s representation. The wider picture of York University continues to disagree.
Here’s a thought Saskia, you have been Women’s Officer for nearly a year. Your job is to empower females to break stereotypes. So you and Josie are the first people I blame for the fact there is only one female candidate.
Rather than crusading from your keyboard, why haven’t you gone out and supported women (other than your best friend) to stand for prez. Why have you not sought out and convinced female college chairs, society presidents and sports captains to run? That is meant to be YOUR job.
The fact there is only one female candidate is as much your fault as society’s. Wise up and stop blaming your failure on society.
I was hoping that an alpha-female like the former Derwent chair Moley would run. She did such a great job for that College I hear, there’s no doubt that she would have got my vote!
@Gill
Im not denying women are marginalised at York, Im merely stating that its not nearly as bad as the article states. The article claims women are under-represented at York based on one factor (lack of female Yusu pres Candidates) I was arguing that although patriarchy exists women are actually well represented in The York university Political sphere (see my second comment above), If you look at the wider picture. This article cherry picks one factor.
Also if you want to talk about thinly veiled? Why dont you mention Visions thinly veiled attempt to Plug one particular candidate COUGH JOSIE COUGH in this article and the info graphic article about YUSU president candidates written by Helena Horton. In the Latter josie is mentioned by name and her candidacy is mentioned despite her not being quoted or referenced in any other way.
UPDATE: Josie’s name and candidacy has been removed from the infographic feature.
@Society
I’d actually argue this article isn’t claiming women are under-represented based on one factor (lack of female pres candidates). I’d argue Saskia is looking at the broader picture (as Vision’s infographic does) of women’s representation in that position at York over time. Her main argument is actually very common-sense, and probably familiar to any social scientists reading – there’s an interesting discrepency between the amount of female students at York and the amount who run for president. This can’t be down to chance. Saying ‘there just aren’t any female candidates’ or ‘women just aren’t running but it’s nothing to do with gender inequality’ isn’t many steps above putting it down to chance. Saskia is offering explanations for this discrepency rooted in her own experiences as a woman and York and, presumably, from those of the students she has supported in her role as women’s officer.
@The Voice of Reason
It’s a bit disingenous to claim that Saskia’s basing her whole outlook on one seminar, no? She’s using that as an example of a phenomenon that many people can attest to anecdotally, and has also been the subject of research. This is a comment article, not a study; it’s perfectly permissible to use a real experience to illustrate a wider point.
@Harriet
You’ve made quite an embarrassing mistake there – ignored the fact that women’s officers do and have in the past encouraged women to run, supported them, run workshops etc. It isn’t the women’s officers jobs to actually acheive an increase in the amount of women running – that would require a huge amount of resources that the university doesn’t give part-time officers. I’m also certain that your enthusiasm for actively supporting women in leadership roles would be right at home at WomCom or FemSoc.
I thought campaigning didn’t start until next week…
Are women even allowed to run for Prez?
Agree with @society you are not representing the bigger picture of female candidates. And let’s not forget women vote these candidates in. Assuming they do vote in equal proportions: it would be interesting to see stats on the proportion of male/female voting. Maybe they would better reflect the gender of candidates applying. If not, that still means the majority of campus is happy to be represented by a man, or maybe they are just happy to be represented by someone with policies that represent their interests, regardless of their gender. Women are not under represented at York. Elsewhere, yes, but there is no ‘culture of misogyny’.
@gill
I’m sorry did you just say Saskia is talking about ONE yusu position And basing an argument to explain it on her OWN experience (specifically of one seminar ) and yet that is a broadly founded arguemrnt? Something doesn’t seem to add up….
@gill
I understand she is using a real life example to demonstrate a point. I’m merely suggesting that her examples are ridiculous, and could be just as easily interpreted in the opposite way. I also highly doubt this “seminar”, where only the men and her spoke, happened.
and, you know what…. when I go to a seminar I don’t sit there and count the gender divide, nor do I watch like a hawk to see which genders speak. I believe in equality of the sexes. it is something that needs to happen. Getting hung up on seminar room’s diversity is unbelievably petty, its a seminar… maybe pay more attention to the tutor, I mean, it is what were all here for after all….isn’t it?
You are assuming the lack of candidates is definitely down to misogyny. You don’t even know how many women vote in these elections, let alone are interested in running for them. Unless you actually ask students why they didn’t run, you have no idea of the reasons. For example, I am not running because I do not want to be president. Not because I am not intimidated, but because I have no interest in a political career and I want to pursue other things. Also, a lot of the joke candidates have been men. The seminar thing? I am on a degree with probably one of the worst ratios for women in the uni, and I have never been treated any differently because of it, nor do I treat the men on my course differently because there are more of them. In fact, the only people trying to represent me based on my gender are certain feminists. You have no evidence to base your assumption of cause on, only a result and I mean evidence, not the experience of one or two people. Does the need for evidence sound familiar?
The above was meant for @gill
If anyone is interested, the male/female ratios of voters from 2009-2012 was pretty much 50/50 with males having a slightly higher percentage turnout.
In pure numbers, women have more voters.
Thanks @voice of reason, can I get a source for that?
I hate these blurred lines
http://www.yusu.org/docs/research/2013/Elections-Report-2013.pdf
read that and do the maths :)
These comments are shocking and totally support Saskia’s case for the prevelance of patriarchy here in York – the observation is legitimate: woman are under represented in the top jobs and that’s a fact. Stop justifying the patriarch; only through acknowledging it are we ever going to stand a chance of overcoming it.
“Girls’ achievement in school is constantly undermined by articles bemoaning ‘male underachievement’”
How about:
Male achievement in university elections constantly undermined by articles bemoaning ‘female underachievement’
Anecdotes, stereotypes and conjecture.
The role of President is an authoritative role, men are more authoritative than women as proved in your seminar. Also Anna Theresa McGivern’s (Student Activities) recent blog shows there are more female chairs than male chairs of societies on campus so your “university isn’t pro woman” stuff is clearly wrong.
http://www.yusu.org/your-union/blogs/entry/1291
This article smacks of double standards.
Not one of the male candidates, or anyone surrounding the election process is making it a debate about gender, apart from the one female candidate, ironic that isn’t it?
Surely if one was to truly consider themselves as a “feminist’ or wanting to break down what they view as the “patriarchal establishment” they wouldn’t simply try and play on the fact that they are a women in a shallow attempt to win votes? Because this is exactly what can be seen in this election. The use of generic women’s propaganda frankly makes a mockery of the election process, in short it’s an attempt to say “I’m a women so vote for me” hardly gender solidarity is it?
As shown by “The Voice of Reason” women haven’t been underrepresented at the university, as they have at least an equal voter turn out as the male students. Rather than being insulting and speaking on behalf of people, the author of this post should have polled female students and asked why they chose not to turn for YUSU presidency (or any other roles for that matter) i’m sure the “sexism” at the university would have ranked very low on the list.
Also, it was nice of you to neglect to mention the things that Universities are doing to break down these “patriarchal” walls that you have so willingly constructed for yourself, see, for example, UoY being one of only 4 universities in the UK to have been awarded Athena SWAN: Gold, which is the highest certification for “recognising a significant and sustained progression and achievement in promoting gender equality”
http://www.athenaswan.org.uk/content/gold
Why should the female candidate play on the fact that she is a woman. Being a woman does NOT make you better/worse at the job in question. Please, feel free to debate the reasons why there aren’t women running because clearly this is an issue but can we all try and vote for the BEST CANDIDATE please. You can still be the best candidate and be male you know. (I’m a woman.)
So let me get the straight, one of the woman’s officers wrote an article that gives reason to vote for a female yusu president quoting Yorks so called “enduring culture of sexism”. Meanwhile the other woman’s officer happens to be running for YUSU pres. Methinks there is a vested interest!
Maybe, just maybe, it’s because young women are more likely to choose go out into the world with their degree rather than loiter around the university (and that degree will be all the better because they’ve not spent essential term-time of third-year campaigning). Also there are less women in politics then men generally, and I don’t think this is due to misogyny: I think it’s because women would rather be practical than spend their time spouting bulls**t.
I am not sure I understand the author’s argument. “women don’t have the confidence to voice their opinions” – right, but is this the fault of a sexist culture at York?
Did these women come to this university full of confidence, and the university destroyed this confidence?
Also, let’s take the example of the seminar. Do lecturers and male students berate female students when they speak up, more than they do the male ones?? If yes, that’s indeed terrible, and needs to be rectified. If not, is it perhaps not up to women to start speaking up more?
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LM: Int’l student officer candidates: Gareth Tan – “I’m keen on intergration”” YOU CANT EVEN SPELL LEON