News / Politics
‘I had to tell my father that marriage is not a profession’
Female mayors from around the world have shared their stories of verbal attacks, assaults and discrimination on their journeys to becoming city leaders.
The Women in Leadership event was part of the Global Parliament of Mayors summit which took place in Bristol this week.
There was standing room only in the Writing Room of City Hall as mayors from Cameroon, South Africa, Sierra Leone and the USA discussed the role of women in leadership.
is needed now More than ever
They were joined by Bristol’s own deputy mayor Asher Craig and Helen Godwin, cabinet member for women at the city council.
Asher Craig praised the work being done to address gender equality in Bristol
And while the focus of the debate was how to drive forward female representation in city leadership – it was the women’s personal stories of success in the face of constant adversity, and in some cases danger, which really inspired the audience.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has been mayor of Freetown in Sierra Leone for five months and in that time she has suffered four “public assaults”.
They were both physical and verbal, and one even required hospital treatment.
Speaking during the event Aki-Sawyerr spoke of the challenges women face when entering politics.
“First the election campaign is hugely challenging, every woman who has ever gone through one will know the dirt that gets flung at you.
“And in my position this has continued and shown by the four very public assaults I have suffered during my short time as mayor.
“For me it really brings to the forefront the challenges women face in order to serve their communities.”
And Godwin encouraged female leaders to band together to form groups and networks – similar to what men have done over the years – in order to help them achieve and grasp opportunities.
This sentiment was echoed by Zandile Gumede, the first female mayor of Durban in South Africa.
Gumende pleaded for women not to “kick the ladder” from under each other.
She added: “You have to be prepared to assist other women to help them climb the ladder.”
And Célestine Ketcha Courtès, the mayor of Bangangté in Cameroon, said one of the biggest challenges women face are traditional concepts of what they are capable of.
Speaking of her own experience she said her father planned to marry her off when she was just 15 years old.
“I had to tell him, marriage is not a profession,” added Courtès, who said girls in her country risk being married at a young age.
“We need to support our young girls and make sure they are able to receive an education. That’s where this begins. This is how we can more females in leadership roles.”
And Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton, Ohio in America, agreed that education was vital but that major changes had to take place in the household environment in order for women to succeed in these roles.
“Women are expected to work full time and also still do 70 per cent of the household work,” said Whaley.
“This is just frankly unsustainable if you want to be in a leadership role.
“There is no way we can sustain the ideal of ‘getting it all done’.”
She also said there was a need for more male feminists who will support women in achieving leadership roles.
Meanwhile deputy mayor of Bristol Asher Craig praised the work being done in the city to achieve greater equality.
She said: “Until 2016 this city was completely dominated by the usual suspects – pale, stale and male.
“The role of mayor is relatively new in Bristol and yes, he happens to be a man but I’m really proud that he happens to also be a feminist.
“He appointed Helen Godwin as the first cabinet member for women in the UK and 60 per cent of the cabinet at the council are women.”
Main photo: The Women in Leadership panel at the Global Parliament of Mayors. (l-r) Mayor of Freetown in Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for women Helen Godwin, deputy mayor of Bristol Asher Craig, mayor of Durban in South Africa Zandile Gumede, Célestine Ketcha Courtès, the mayor of Bangangté in Cameroon and Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton, Ohio in America.
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
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