Too Many Men

By Cllr Siobhan Paterson

There are too many men in politics. There I said it.

If officials are elected to reflect the demographics of their area, then why are only 33% of Scottish councillors’ female?

Decisions made at council level affect every aspect of our daily lives. We know conversations are poorer when we only ever get to hear one viewpoint. We know we need more women in power. We know there are an abundance of women who could do the world of good in the role!

If you’re community minded and you care about people you are qualified to do the job, and you should find out more!

What does a councillor do?

“Councillors are elected by the public in local elections. Councillors work with local people and partners, such as community groups, businesses and other organisations, to agree and deliver on local priorities.”

Full disclosure, I googled that. If you want a simple answer, there isn’t one. There is no set job description and there are so many variables. It can be a lot to process. Being able to offer a workshop to allow women to hear first-hand from the inspirational women already in the role was invaluable. I was delighted to be able to offer Elect Her’s First Step to Stand Workshop on behalf of Falkirk Council.

This workshop allowed us to hold space for one another and try to address some of the concerns that attendees had. We had an honest and open discussion about the real challenges and real rewards of being a female councillor.

So why aren’t more women doing it?

The political system was designed by and for upper class men hundreds of years ago and hasn’t changed much since. The system was never meant for us which is why we need more women involved in the decision making to change the system.

The patriarchy has encouraged women to be humble, stay small, remain obedient. We’ve mistakenly been taught that men are natural born leaders and women are… not! Politics was never really considered a career path for girls-but that’s a notion that younger generations are rejecting.

Gender norms. Feminism taught us “we can do it all”. Whilst it is true that we can do it all, doesn’t mean that we should have to. The reality for many women is that we’re expected to work like we don’t have children. Raise children like we don’t have jobs. Take on the mental workload of running a home. Be the primary carers for our extended families… and do it all with a smile on your face. I don’t envy the women in politics who came before me, but I’m so grateful that they did! I can only imagine how difficult it must have been in years gone by. I’m not going to try and convince anyone that it’s easy to juggle.

The pay is a barrier to many. There’s a reason that statistically your councillor is likely to be an older, middle class, white male. Generally speaking, older gentlemen have the time and resources to engage in politics. The role of a councillor is not what it used to be (or so I’m told). The increased complexity is now being recognised and the pay scale is under review. It may be an unpopular move in the eyes of some but, I’m glad to say that as of April 2025 the basic remuneration (pay) for a Scottish councillor is increasing to £25,300. This can increase depending on a number of variables such as if you’re party is in administration or if you hold a specific role.

The barriers don’t end upon getting into office.

Institutional issues remain. Patriarchal systems and chauvinistic attitudes prevail. On the bright side, with increasing representation, the poor behaviour is being highlighted, challenged and hopefully changed! It can feel like a boys’ club a lot of the time, but if you’re as lucky as I am, you’ll have strong allies and supports around you that make it manageable.

Abuse, it is almost normalised when we talk about politicians… more so if you’re a female politician… and even more so for female politicians from ethnic minority backgrounds. Being in the public eye is not without its issues, developing a thick skin helps. We certainly don’t have the same experience as our male counterparts.

Ultimately, as difficult as the role can be, it is as equally rewarding. The more women get involved, the stronger our voices, the more we change the system.

Looking forward...

Say what you will about the effects of COVID (and we could say a lot) but one undeniable benefit has been the cultural shift in remote working. Without the ability to engage in this role online I know I could never have managed any semblance of work-life-balance. Of course, councillors still need to be seen locally, but a lot can be achieved remotely between the school run or online whilst the kids are in their swimming lessons.

I’m sure it’s news to nobody that councils generally move at a glacial pace. But movement is movement nonetheless. Policies and procedures that take work life balance into account are being considered and reviewed and the wellbeing of councillors is a consideration in many councils.

The culture in politics at every level needs an overhaul. Let’s be honest, the majority of men in power either don’t see the problem or are not motivated to change it. It’s only when we see more women in positions of power that real change is achievable.

So, how do we get more women involved?

How many women do you know that are active in their community? How many women do you know that are passionate about social issues? How many women do you know that offer their time and support to others? I would bet that half of them have never considered getting involved in politics. Start the conversation! Ask them! Ask yourself!

I was sick of hearing myself banging on about our need for more women in politics. I was sick of sitting in rooms debating why there weren’t enough women in politics. Tackling the problem seemed too big, too much to take on. But with support from Elect Her it was made easy! I am eternally grateful for the help and support they provided me.

I could not be gladder that I ran the 1st Step to Stand workshop. Not only did I get to spend the day surrounded with a bunch of inspirational women, but it has given me renewed faith for the future of politics (which is quite a feat!)

Whatever doubts I may have had in the organising of the event were banished by the support from sister councillors, Falkirk Council officers and the resounding response from the women of Falkirk who signed up in their droves! There is clearly an appetite amongst women to know more and get more involved and it was an honour to be able to offer the opportunity.

So, what’s the next step?

I imagine the fact that you’re reading this means you likely already follow Elect Her. If you don’t then do it! Even if moving forward in politics doesn’t seem like it’s for you, Elect Her are creating a movement of women at all levels of democracy and nurturing a culture where all women can thrive in political spaces.

For the women of Falkirk, we get to look forward to good coffee and cake at a local our establishment Behind The Wall 12-2pm on March 16th. Think of it like speed dating, but all your date wants to talk about is local democracy and activism through a feminist lens. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon if you ask me.

Locally, high school pupils can look out for this show hitting the road. Coming to fill your young minds with fun facts about children’s rights and political engagement!

What’s the worst that can happen?

Once you look, there are tons of inspiring women that will raise you up. You might find that you want to take it further. Great. You might increase your confidence to be more involved in your community. Great. You might even make some new friends. Great. Politics isn’t for everyone. Think about it though… what’s the best that could happen?