OCTOBER 25 — A few months ago, Singaporeans watched as the rather surprising results of general election 2015 were announced. The final tallies may have defied the pundits’ expectations but one thing was emphatically not a surprise — far fewer women than men were elected to Parliament.
Women won 18 of 84 contested seats and together with five nominated (un-elected MPs), the sex holds just over 20 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The proportion has been more or less flat for over a decade.
Of course this is a global phenomenon. Women represent 50 per cent of the population in most countries but only a handful of parliaments reflect anything near the real demographic balance; Sweden and Finland are strong performers... as is Rwanda.
However, it can’t be denied that female representation in Singapore’s Parliament has increased significantly from effectively 0 per cent in the 70s and 80s to over 20 per cent today but the truth is that in positions of true power — ministries and positions at the top of the administrative and economic hierarchy — women are sorely under-represented.
http://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world...ale-prime-minister/ar-BBmp4dq?ocid=spartandhp
Women won 18 of 84 contested seats and together with five nominated (un-elected MPs), the sex holds just over 20 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The proportion has been more or less flat for over a decade.
Of course this is a global phenomenon. Women represent 50 per cent of the population in most countries but only a handful of parliaments reflect anything near the real demographic balance; Sweden and Finland are strong performers... as is Rwanda.
However, it can’t be denied that female representation in Singapore’s Parliament has increased significantly from effectively 0 per cent in the 70s and 80s to over 20 per cent today but the truth is that in positions of true power — ministries and positions at the top of the administrative and economic hierarchy — women are sorely under-represented.
http://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world...ale-prime-minister/ar-BBmp4dq?ocid=spartandhp
It is not the number that matters. We choose the best people for the job regardless of their gender. Trouble is there are not that many who are good enough for the roles they must perform. We cannot compromise the welfare of Singaporeans for the facade of gender equality. It does not make sense at all. 
