During a panel discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji,” FemLINKPacific executive director Fay Volatabu posed a thought-provoking question: Why don’t women support other women?
Volatabu emphasized that this topic emerges frequently in workshops. She cited historical context in Fiji, pointing to various towns such as Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Navua, Labasa, Nabouwalu, Taveuni, Lautoka, Nadi, and Sigatoka, which collectively have a higher female population than male. Despite this demographic, she noted a lack of female representation among parliamentarians, questioning why those in leadership positions do not reflect this majority.
Referencing statistics from the 2017 census, she argued that if women constitute a larger part of the population, there should naturally be more female leaders. However, she outlined several reasons for the disconnect.
Firstly, she mentioned that women often face repercussions for engaging in endeavors that promote diversity and leadership outside traditional male roles, which can lead to victimization.
Secondly, Volatabu pointed out a common sentiment among women leaders: the belief that if they succeeded, others should be able to do so without the need for special quotas or policies.
Lastly, she noted that to attain leadership roles, women may feel pressured to adopt male-dominated thought processes and behaviors, suggesting that alignment with masculine norms is deemed necessary for success.