Gender inequality seen in the political numbers

THE letter on ‘gender equality’ by Patrick McGinnity (Irish Examiner, January 19) mixed up equality and difference.

To say “the majority of industrial accidents and fatalities involve men because they do most of the high-risk jobs” is equivalent to saying women are involved in all of the child birth problems.

To some extent, we are all different.

The basic concept of a representative democracy, however, is that we are all equal despite our differences.

From this principle it is possible to argue that the interests of women — the majority of the electorate — are under-represented because they comprise a mere 13% of Dáil members.

That is not to say that no other groups are under-represented. Women, however, are an obvious and vital majority interest whose talents are under-utilised in the principal institution of our democracy — the Dáil.

Anthony Leavy

1 Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13