Fay Volatabu, the executive director of FemLINKPacific, posed an important question during a panel discussion organized by Dialogue Fiji on the theme “Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji.” She raised concerns about the challenge of women not supporting one another in Fiji’s political landscape.
In her remarks, Ms. Volatabu reflected on her experience conducting workshops, where the lack of support among women often emerges as a recurring theme. She noted that many towns in Fiji, including Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Navua, Labasa, Nabouwalu, Taveuni, Lautoka, Nadi, and Sigatoka, have larger female populations compared to males. However, she pointed out that this demographic reality does not translate into proportionate female representation in government.
Using data from the 2017 census, she emphasized that despite the prevalence of females in these areas, the representation of women in leadership roles remains low. Ms. Volatabu offered some insights into why this might be the case.
She asserted that women face penalties for engaging in diverse values and activities, often becoming victimized when they step into leadership roles. This discourages many from pursuing leadership opportunities. Additionally, she mentioned that some women leaders question why others might need special quotas or decisions to gain opportunities when they themselves achieved success.
Lastly, she discussed a prevalent mindset where women feel pressured to adopt male-like thinking and behavior to attain leadership positions, which further complicates the support network among women.