In a sign of how sexism and misogyny were so embedded in Northern Ireland, official minutes once recorded Ian Paisley Jr shouting “moo, moo, moo” at a female politician.
The outburst against Monica McWilliams in 1997 was part of a boorish, sneering culture that deterred women from entering politics and sought to intimidate the few who dared.
Change has come. Of the 90 newly elected assembly members who trooped into Stormont to sign the roll on Friday, 32 are women – a record 35%. Four of the top 10 candidates who polled highest in last week’s election were women. The leaders of the biggest and third-biggest party, Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin and Naomi Long of Alliance, are women.
Female MLAs have beamed from the assembly steps, veterans and newbies, embodying what could be a new era for equality in Northern Ireland – assuming the political impasse that is blocking the formation of the assembly is resolved. “We are very happy with this increase! But there is still much more work to be done,” tweeted 50:50 NI, an advocacy group for women in Northern Ireland politics.
Some wonder if this election represented progress, as a vicious brand of sexism and misogyny threaded the campaign, leaving some candidates shaken and fuelling demands for greater oversight of social media platforms.
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