Quotas for Women

[Renegade]

It would seem that Norway has for some time now, adopted a system where women have been allocated quotas for participation in government and business.

A system of gender quotas was first adopted within the Socialist Left Party and the Liberal Party as far back as the 1970s. Today virtually all of the major Norwegian parties apply a gender quota system in nominations to elections as well as to the make-up of party-governing bodies at all levels. This quota system is voluntary and self-imposed. Norway does not have any legal provision for gender balance in political parties or directly elected bodies.

A quota system has also been introduced for publicly appointed committees, boards and councils. Thirty years ago, women comprised only 11 per cent of the representation of such assemblages. In 1981, provisions concerning a required gender balance in publicly appointed committees, etc., were introduced into the Gender Equality Act, and since 1988 there has been a requirement that representation be a minimum of 40 per cent of each gender. After the most recent amendment, the level of female representation improved from 22 per cent, reaching a stable 40 per cent in 1997.

Women in Norwegian politics

Such a system seems to run counter to meritocracy which is what most people would consider fair.

Do women, many of whom have been fighing to be considered equals, think such a system which blatently discrimminates in their favour should be adopted?

[M.Dancer]

Been there, debated that.

[Renegade]

My bad. Ignore the thread.