First we laid the groundwork to facilitate women's entry into politics. Then we used quotas as an instrument in segments and institutions where we needed a breakthrough. Opinions vary among women regarding the effects, fairness and repercussions of using quotas to increase women's representation. In August 1997, International IDEA gathered women MPs from around the world to discuss this issue within the broader context of women's effectiveness and participation in politics. Some of the opinions shared are highlighted throughout this chapter.
Quotas are a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, they oblige men to think about including women in decision-making, since men must create spaces for women. In general, quotas for women represent a shift from one concept of equality to another. Removing the formal barriers, for example, giving women voting rights, was considered sufficient. The rest was up to the individual women. The argument is that real equal opportunity does not exist just because formal barriers are removed.