Behind the scenes of politics

"We must work twice as hard to reach the same" 

Being woman in the political arena
  

''I was literally standing outside the circle.'' 

Something that really happened to European parliament member Raquel García Hermida- van der Walle. During an important meeting, the men in the room formed a circle, and the women present were left standing outside. '' It was as if they could not see us from their height,'' she says. It was one of those moments that revealed how male- dominated the political world still is.  

Raquel García Hermida- van der Walle works in the European Parliament for D66, a Dutch progressive liberal party. Fighting for accessible abortion, fighting against far-right propaganda and fighting against the current fireworks regulations. She is one of the 277 women's that are currently in the European Parliament.  

There is a feeling that you work in a men dominated work field. Politics are about authority, status and power, qualities that, as a society, we still unconsciously associate more with men than with women.  ''We have internalized this," she explains. ''Through our upbringing, role models and the way leadership is portrayed.  

Women and especially younger women are taken less seriously. Their mistakes are forgiven less easily. '' We must work twice as hard to achieve the same results." 

She describes herself as someone with a healthy amount of self-confidence, yet there have been moments when she had to quite literally fight her way in. More upsetting was a recent experience. After hearing a political opponent said to her: " Of course he answered your question and not mine. You are much prettier than I am.'' 

''I was so taken aback by how sexist and rude a man can be that I do not even know how to react'', she says. ''And maybe that hurts the most.'' 

There are now leadership and political training programs specifically aimed at women. Still, she refuses to call this an ' advantage'. " We are decades behind when it comes to equal representation, in politics, the European Parliament, and in corporate leadership.'' 

With women being underrepresented in politics she questions if there has been a big breakthrough in women's emancipation. ''Of course, the moment women gained passive and active voting rights laid the foundation, but as long as women are underrepresented, the work is far from done.'' 

Raquel end with encouragement, for people who have political ambitions. " Even considering becoming politically active means that the spark is already there; that is special. Most people do not reach that stage.'' 

Her advice is simple, yet powerful; Explore different parties, get a feel for where you belong, not only in terms of values, but also internal culture. Never hesitate to raise your hand. ''Because you already have a no, and a yes is something you can still get.'' 

Interview done by Merle Weistra