Men still dominate the top ranks of Oxford societies and JCRs, a Cherwell investigation has found. Just 35% of current society presidents are women, whilst there are only five female JCR presidents from 31 colleges.
Male dominance of senior committees occurs in almost all Oxford societies, with just one third of executive positions currently held by women.
Students have expressed their concern that many Oxford societies remain dominated by men, with this especially being the case for the most senior positions within these societies.
Only eight out of the 26 Oxford Union Presidents between 2000 and 2010 have been women, and female representation is far worse on the lower committees of the Union.
Martha Mackenzie was elected last term to be the first female president of OUSU since 2006, and described the lack of female JCR presidents as “terrible”.
“There is a often a cultural barrier which stops women from getting involved with politics,” she said.
OUSU VP for Women, Katharine Terrell, told Cherwell that when women run for office “it seems they are just as likely to be elected as a man running… We can’t just wait and hope that women will eventually reach the top positions – we need to be taking action now.” Terrell added that some female candidates, “feel that they will be judged on their gender or personal life far more than men.”
In an article for Cherwell in Trinity 2010, the then-Union President, Laura Winwood commented, “The misleading perception of the Union as an aggressive, male-dominated political institution… may discourage some from participation.” She also said that it was “vital that you challenge [men] on their own turf.”
An OUSU report published in 2010 said, “An attempt was made a couple of years ago to encourage more women to participate in meetings… it seems to have made very little impact.”
The three main University political societies are also still male-dominated. Oxford University Conservative Association has been embroiled in a number of sexism rows in the past couple of years. Currently, there is only one female member of the 15 person OUCA committee.
OUCA President Henry Evans said, “During my time in Oxford, there have been women holding officerships in OUCA in every term, one of whom became President. Over a third of our membership are women. I do not think this is a result of sexism within OUCA. This is a problem, but it is not just a problem with Oxford student politics, but with politics across the country, including at Westminster.
“It is worth remembering that OUCA had had two female presidents before the Union even allowed women to join as members, one of whom went on to be this country’s first, and so far only, female Prime Minister.”
The Oxford University Labour Club committee is also male heavy, with only 34% of the committee composed of women in the past year. Co-chair Kat Shields told Cherwell, “OULC is a progressive society. However, not even OULC are immune from the persistent problem of the gender gap in Oxford societies.”
Shields said that the gender balance needed to be actively redressed to show that OULC were “serious” about the issue, and to “buck the trend” of male dominance in societies at Oxford.
The low number of female JCR presidents has left many asking why so few women run for this particular position. Charlotte Meara, Trinity JCR President, said “It is important to encourage women to run for positions on the JCR Committee,” but added that, “these attempts must not become patronising – for example, the suggestion of ‘female only hustings’.”
She continued, “I did not feel deterred from running for President, nor have I encountered any difficulties, as a result of my gender.” Meara suggested that “an inherent lack of confidence in their own abilities” may deter some women from running for executive positions.
Reena Virdee, of Oxford Women in Business, agreed on the importance of perception, “The trend will not change if more and more women decide that a role in a society is ‘not for them’.”
Mackenzie, OUSU’s President-elect, added, “I think women are just as likely to and just as keen to get involved with politics, but can lack the confidence and support to take the plunge, especially when there is such low visibility.
“Often it is just about breaking this cycle: those JCRs that have recently had a female president often go on to re-elect women.
“In running for election I think as a woman you can be placed under greater scrutiny; often your authority and strength are questioned to a far greater degree. Such a male-dominated environment can be intimidating but when women get involved they often go on to be very successful.”
On some societies’ committees, however, women form the majority. Across the last three terms, 53% of the Law Society committee has been female. Whilst the last two presidents have been male, there have been eight successive female treasurers, and the top four positions were all held by women in Trinity 2010.
Current President Oscar Robinson, said, “As the figures demonstrate, LawSoc is not a male-dominated society. I believe that the opportunity to reach the top positions within the society are open to those willing to put in the time.”
OULC currently runs a Women’s Caucus to try to encourage more women to join and run for elections, with speaker events, socials and other female-oriented events. OUSU, the Oxford Union and OULC joined together to host ‘Women’s Campaign Training’ this week.
Former President of Oxford Women In Politics, Krisztina Csortea, said that these events “go a long way towards encouraging women to get involved.” However, she noted, “Societies with a poor track record of women running for committee positions have to address the root causes of the problem themselves.”
The Union has also established a Women’s Initiative, with public-speaking events put on to help women practice for hustings.
Joanna Farmer, a previous chairman of the Debate Selection Committee, said that the Union is “definitely perceived to be an old boys’ club, but I have rarely experienced that first hand.” She pointed out that the Oxford Women’s Open competition had been established as “an active step to get more women involved.”
