Women
Women
are
often sidelined in debates about green issues. This is perhaps a result
of the general under-representation of women in all areas of politics. The picture in
developing countries is even
more one-sided.
The
situation
in
British companies is quite
extraordinary. In the top 350 businesses, only 34 of the 970
executive directors are women. Only four women hold company chairs -
just 1.3 % of the total. An amazing 132 companies have no women at all
on their managing boards; they include Barclays Bank and Royal Bank of
Scotland. Any women who use these banks might ask a few very pointed
questions.
There
are
519 male
M.P.s at Westminster and only 126
women.
A
study
of 350
films made in the U.K. showed that
only eight were directed by women.
Only
32
% of
students studying GCSE economics are
female.
In
the
law courts
and the police force, about one in
ten senior roles are held by women.
Yet
in
practical
terms women make most decisions about buying food, utilities,
appliances. Women in Britain control over £400 million more
expenditure every week than men do.
Women
are
still the
main element in the education of
children and have a major influence on the attitudes and development of
their children.
How
long
will it be
before women begin to assert
their rightful position in the realms of government, industry,
business, education and finance ?When this eventually starts to happen,
we can expect some radical changes in national priorities and in the
recognition of environmental necessities.
What
channels
can
be developed, what agencies can be
created or adapted, what obstacles must be removed before these
inevitable changes take place ?
Until
then,
women
will have little influence over
environmental decision-making.