I Lesatele
Samoans support more women representation in Parliament.
This is the finding of a survey conducted by the National University of Samoa NUS in partnership with the Australian National University ANU and the Swinburne University of Technology SUT of Australia in 2020 and 2021.
Fifty six per cent (56%) of the Samoans surveyed were of the opinion that the five women Member of Parliament at the time of the survey were “ too few”. This attitude was more likely to be shared by people of over the age of 30 years (58%) and those with tertiary education( 65%).
Thirty seven per cent(37%) thought the number was “just right” and 7 per cent believed this number was “ too many”.
The survey also found the majority of the Samoans accept having a woman as Prime minister. Eighty five per cent (85%) of the people surveyed strongly agreed when asked whether a woman should be prime minister of the country.
Support for a woman prime minister was significantly higher in those aged 30 years and over (65%) than those aged 21 to 29 years (51%).
Support for a woman Head of State however was high among the younger people ( 55%) than people over 60 and over(43%).
The survey also found that overall there was a strong support for women to play an active role in government. This was reflected with an overwhelming 88% of the people surveyed who felt that “ women should be involved in politics as much as men” and 85% in strong support of “a woman should become Prime Minister of our country.”
Also there was strong support(75%) by the Samoans for temporary special measures to increase women’s representation in parliament.
Currently there are 7 women in Samoa’s parliament. Four were voted in by their constituencies while three are there to fulfil the 10% minimum requirement for women representatives in Parliament as under the constitution.
Amendment made to Samoa’s constitution requires that a minimum of 10% of the parliamentarians should be women. This amendment to the constitution was passed by parliament before the 2016 elections to help increase the number of women parliamentarians. Fa’aulusau Rosa Duffy was the first woman to enter parliament under this special provision.
After the 2021 elections three women occupy the special seats in order to meet the 10% requirement.
The 2021 general election is historical for women representation and leadership. Seven (7) women representatives now sit in Parliament . It is the biggest number of women MPs in Samoa’s parliament. Historical also is that Samoa for the first time has a woman Prime Minister. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa before becoming Prime Minister also had other first. She is the longest serving woman parliamentarian, the first woman to hold a ministerial post and was deputy prime minister.
These are achievements worth celebrating and should be embraced by the women as the country celebrates sixty years of independence.
The journey of an active participation of women in politics at the national level was started by some incredible women. They should be given recognition.
The first woman to enter parliament was the late Leaupepe Taulapapa Faimaala and this was in 1970. Other pioneers included Matatumua Maimoaga Matatumua, Laulu Fetauimalemau Mataafa, Iiga Suafole and Sina Annadale. These courageous women have passed on. Others included Safunetuuga Neri Fepuleai, Gatoloai Amataga Gidlow and Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau.
The current women MP are Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, Matamua Vasati, Faimalotoa Kika Stowers, Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau, Faagasealii Sapoa Feagiai and Toomata Nora Leota.
Fiame was returned to Parliament uncontested while Mulipola, Matamua and Faimalotoa were elected by their constituencies. Aliimalemanu, Fagaesealii and Toomata who were candidates for the 2021 election occupy the special seats for women.
Despite these milestones for women leadership in the country there is however a lingering belief with a large number of Samoans that men are better political leaders than women the survey pointed out.
“The survey showed that overall popular attitudes to women participation were generally positive but “ there was nonetheless a large minority who agreed that “ in general men are better at political leadership than women” (44%). Many who had this attitude were those people who had primary or secondary education (46%). Only 35% of tertiary educated people were less likely to agree to the attitude that men made better political leaders than women.”
The survey also found there is a strong support for more women participation in politics and they should be involved in politics as much as men.
“ Overall, there was a strong majority support for women to play an active role in government. Notably 88% of respondents felt women should be involved in politics as much as men. This finding was reflected in strong agreement ((85%) that “a woman should become Prime Minister of our country.” However, this same level of support did not extend to the Head of State( 0 le Ao o le Malo), with just 49% agreeing that “ a woman should become Head of State in our country.”This likely reflects the fact that the head of state in Samoa has a strong traditional basis.”
Survey also “found significant differences between the views of young and older Samoans, with younger Samoans being more conservative in their views than older Samoans. Where 51% of those aged 21-29 strongly agreed that ‘ a woman should become Prime Minister of our country of our country,” this figure was significantly higher among those aged 30 or above (65%). However, there was one exception. Younger people were more likely to agree that a woman could become head of state(55%) than were seniors , aged 60+(43%). This fit a wider pattern in the data which showed that while older respondents have more democratic attitudes they were more traditional in their outlook.”