Diversity: Is it always good?

"Since what needs doing is never simple, and always has many aspects, people have to specialize to some extent in particular projects and endeavours. But because this complexity is both alarming and confusing, there is a constant temptation for each set of them to become reductive and to claim that their own aspect is the only key one, that it somehow leads the way for all the others." (Mary Midgley)

Deputy Louise Doublet was reported as saying that more diversity is needed in the States to better reflect the population, but there are problems with wanting that and achieving that. And Senator Kristina Moore has called for more women in the States.

If we look at May 2018, a record number of women stood. 30 of the 92 candidates were female, the highest number recorded this century.

Successful:

Tracey Vallois

Kristina Moore

Sarah Ferguson

Carolyn Labey

Susie Pinel

Judy Martin

Carina Alves

Mary Le Hegarat

Louise Doublet

Jess Perchard

Deidre Mezbourian

Karen Shenton-Stone

Unsuccessful:

Moz Scott

Garel Tucker

Cloe Freeman

Samantha Morrison

Kelly Langdon

Linda Dodds

Inna Gardiner

Jacqui Carrel

Anne Southern

Mary Ayling-Philip

Sarah Westwater

Isabella Lewis

Fiona O’Sullivan

Jaime Boylan

Mary O’Keefe-Burgher

Juliette Gallichan

Sadie Rennard

Numbers aren’t the whole story

In some seats, there were not enough places for all the women standing. For instance, St Saviour No 3 saw Jess Perchard and Mary O’Keefe-Burgher both standing for one seat. St Helier No ¾ had five women standing for four seat. St Clement had 3 women standing for 2 seats. In these cases, even if the women had taken the seats – as Jess Perchard did in St Saviour No 3, not all the women standing would have been able to get in.

So although 30 of 92 candidates were female, only 27 could have been elected.

Democracy Versus Diversity

Secondly, however much we might want a more diverse States – and I’m certainly pleased with a more diverse Council of Ministers – it is up to voters to decide who to vote for. More women can be encouraged to stand, and less obstacles placed in their way.

What kind of obstacles? An obvious one is  about combining a career in politics with child rearing, something that a few female States members have had to deal with, the kind of juggling than men do not have. 

As the late Mary Midgley pointed out, there is an implicit "virism" in society - "an unconscious, unhesitating assumption that an individual is always an independent male." House husbands or single parent families where the parent is a man are far less common that the converse. As Mary Midgley demonstrated in her philosophical and sociological analysis in her book, "Women's Choices", women face more constraints in choices than men because of the very nature of the society in which we live. Choices about child rearing and work are one example, albeit not the only one, but they can have knock on effects elsewhere.

What kind of Diversity do we want?

Thirdly, while male and female may represent some degree of diversity, another kind of diversity is how diverse the candidates – whether male or female – are politically. There’s a wide divide between, for example, candidates like Susie Pinel and Samantha Morrison, as became very clear at the hustings. 

When it comes to voting, if politics of candidates are similar, more gender diversity would be good, but when it comes to widely differing political views, people will quite properly vote politically rather than simply to maximise gender diversity.

In this respect, having a broader spectrum of political views within the Council of Ministers is better than, for example, having a very narrow Council of Ministers who a preponderance of women who all sing from a very limited political hymn sheet.

Why Diversity can be good?

A notable example of a women’s issue which had been pushed to the back for many years was the establishment of a women’s refuge in 1988. The attitude of quite a few States members was that domestic violence was not a big issue in Jersey, something for families to sort out internally, and they said "It’s not needed in Jersey".

It is clear from reading the debates that this was far higher on the agenda for women than for men, and it was Deputy Corrie Stein who pushed it though with a proposition.

The proposition was passed by 25 to 21 votes, but it is notable that the Constable of St Brelade, Mrs. Enid Quenault and Deputy Margaret Beadle (St Brelade No 1) voted against it. This is an example, if one were needed, that although all the other women in the States voted for it – a majority, it still was not quite enough of an issue to be voted for by all the women in the States.

Do we need Diverse Groups for Diverse Political Positions?

While individuals can bring the benefit of life experience to bear - consider Philip Ozouf on gay marriage, for example - it would be impossible for the demographic of the States to match the kind of demographic of the census - nationality, gender, retired, disabled etc etc.  

That is not to say it has no benefits as that may highlight deficiencies in how the States assembly conducts its business. I heard some people comment that Anthony Lewis if elected, would simply not be able to cope with States business, and yet by using assisted technology, not unlike Stephen Hawkins, he was able to take part in the electoral process. 

Where diversity is needed is where there is the patronising attitude that those with a disability of some kind are by the nature of their condition unable to take part - they should perhaps, consider David Blunkett and pause to think. It may be harder to make accommodations but it is not impossible.

Diversity or Better Skills?

Vicky Soar, Service Manager for New Horizons recently spoke out: “There are lots of barriers to people with disabilities accessing areas in town. For example, the pavements do not have enough lowered kerbs for a wheelchair to get off and onto the pavement easily - this is all around town. We went into the lift in de Gruchy and realised that a wheelchair user could not reach the buttons in the lift. Scaffolding and cars being parked on the pavement causes massive problems and often people will simply not go into town due to these barriers."

You do not have to be disabled to speak up for a disabled group and understand the problems they face: all it needs is the ability to listen, to look, and to learn, and above all to empathise. What perhaps we need are more States members with that range of skills, which have, in the past, been sadly lacking. But the recent vote on doctors being able to prescribe medical cannabis treatments to alleviate pain - often as a better alternative than other drugs with really nasty side effects - shows that matters may be improving.