A comparative study of political empowerment and gender equality in Malta and Sweden

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on gender equality and political empowerment in Malta and Sweden. These two countries were selected because of their great differences in achieving a gender parity in parliament. Statistics show, that Sweden achieved a gender parity both in its national Parliament and in the European Parliament. While on the other hand, Malta has a low female representation in its national Parliament but more than half of its members of European Parliament are females. Society always expected men and women to behave according to their gender roles. Women have been trying to break the glass ceiling since the late 18th century, known as the first wave of feminism. Throughout the years, women started recognising that their role in society was as important as that of men, even in politics, so they started making pressure to be given the right to vote and administer their finances. Sweden and other Nordic countries embraced this mind set almost immediately, and this had an impressive effect on their societies. This culture also had an impact in the Swedish parliament with the first female representation in 1921. In Malta women have been participating in politics for decades with prominent figures such as Ms. Mable Strickland and Her Excellency Agatha Barbara, but gender equality its quite a recent issue. It has to be recognised that in a short span of time, Malta reached many milestones in gender equality. However, even though in 1947 women were given the right to vote, national politics is still mainly male dominated. This dissertation, clearly shows that Sweden had a strategy to achieve a gender parity and to attain political empowerment. This study also addresses the issue whether Maltese society is aware of the importance of more female representation in parliament and whether Maltese women, authorities and political parties are taking any action to change the situation. This dissertation analyses the cultural barriers that are hindering into having more female representation in the Maltese National Parliament.