Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

I went to an event organised by the newly formed Women in Management Network last night at the National Assembly where the new permanent Secretary of the Welsh Assembly Government,Gillian Morgan and the Chief Executive of the National Assembly for Wales, Claire Clancy spoke about their experiences in management. Gillian Morgan is certainly a lively character, and engaged those present immediately with her witty comments about her rise to the top of her career- although I could not do justice relaying her stories here. Claire Clancy also spoke eloquently about her career, and how she rebelled against going to University- instead opting to enter the civil service straight after her formal education, and again, working her way up the greasy pole.

While both contributions were interesting, and while I was pleased to be sitting in a room full of women who had all probably experienced the sexism that is rife in our work places, and struggled for acceptance, I was a little disappointed that there was this air of denial in the gender issue playing a key role in the barriers that women still face- in work and in society generally. Gillian Morgan noted quite clearly that she had not experienced the so called ‘glass ceiling’, and that it was possible, with effort for every woman to push ahead undeterred with their aspirations. She also said that many women chose not to attend meetings or apply for non executive positions as they did not feel comfortable in doing so, but that women should just be bold enough to do so. But is it as easy as that?

I agree with her sentiment,  but there has to be a sea change in the system for women to be able to feel that they are able to enter surroundings that are alien to them, and which men still dominate. Also, in relation to childcare, the panelists stated that this should be seen more as a family issue, and not an issue for women. While I understand what they mean in terms of ensuring that childcare is shared between both parents or other family members, it is true to say that women are still those who are juggling childcare and work in the main, and that barriers to flexible working deter them from progressing their career. We need to be upfront about that, and de -stigmatise the stereotypes of women and childcare.

I was disappointed by the lack of discussion on how women access management, and what the Welsh Assembly Government and the Assembly’s Commission are doing to work positively to ensure that women are holding key positions. There was also a void of discussion on equal pay, and the ongoing battle for progress on this issue withing Local Authorities in Wales. I don’t want this blog to appear that I am criticising the network, as I believe that it is superb in providing a support base for women, and for them to share experiences and to gain mentoring skills, but I think that introducing more debates for future events could shape the way that the network develops. It can be pro active in challenging some of the systems that are in place, that so obviously deter women from entering.