Argentina: despite rising numbers, women politicians still lack clout - Reports From Around the World: South America - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

WIN News, Spring, 2002

FROM 'TOWARD FREEDOM', POB 468, Burlington, VERMONT 05402-0468

"Prior to the current crisis, Argentina had become something of a showpiece, with more women lawmakers than most legislatures in the world. When the elected parliamentarians were sworn in last December, 29.5 percent of the Lower House seats and 34.7 percent of those in the Senate were taken by women. Those figures are well above world averages.

The Geneva-based Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), an organization with 179 associated national parliaments, notes that, in its member parliaments, the average figure for women legislators is 14 percent for the Lower House and 13.2 percent for the Upper House.

These changes in the make-up of the Argentinean legislature follow dramatic changes made to the composition of the Senate. For the first time in the country's history, its members were elected by popular vote. As a result, a 1991 national law establishing a 33 percent women's quota in lists of candidates of all parties came into operation.

Until now, Argentina's 24 provincial legislatures appointed the national senators. Only four of the 72 who finished their terms in December were women. With 30.6 percent, Argentina is now clearly ahead. . .Despite these recent gains, however, Argentine politicians say women are still struggling to achieve real power. . . Since Congress passed the quota law in 1991, the number of women legislators has been on the rise. But, according to deputy Elisa Carrio, 'they don't have real power. And the female candidates are still chosen by men'. . .

The political parties' inner circles, 'the places where decisions about the distribution of internal power are made, are still off limits for women.'

Among female legislators, there is an ongoing debate about what should be the top priority in their political agenda. Some believe that, in order to improve women's status in society, they should focus on a handful of key items and loin forces to advance them, ignoring party barriers. 'Female lawmakers don't push hard enough on gender issues. . .

But many female legislators hate being caged inside a limited political agenda: family and social issues, education and women's sexuality, and reproductive health. 'We must tackle all the subjects, otherwise we would be putting ourselves in a situation of inequality.'

Though Congress lacks a women's caucus, female lawmakers say that, overtime, cooperation among them has been growing on a range of issues. But they also recognize that when the time comes to tackle political hot potatoes, voting along party lines is, and will be, the norm. . .

Women still dream about gaining real political clout, breaking through that 'glass ceiling' that prevents them from having access to the highest offices. 'You don't find women in the Supreme Court or as provincial governors. . .

Politics is about power, and men are not willing to give it up. But, it is worth fighting for especially now - because 'politics is too serious an issue to leave in the hands of men.'"