Fiji Electoral Change Mooted in Gender Edition Of PJR
AUCKLAND: (PJR/Pacific Media Watch): A media academic has called for an electoral change in Fiji to enable fairer
participation for women in political life in an article published in the latest Pacific Journalism Review.
Only seven percent of Fiji's lawmakers are women and Dr Rae Nicholl, of the University of the South Pacific's World
Politics Programme, suggests an amendment to the alternative vote electoral system.
Writing in a research paper in a special gender edition of PJR, Dr Nicholl says "one reason for this lack of female
visibility [in Parliament] is the focus on racial divisions in Fiji, which has resulted in the neglect of the gender
gap".
She says Fiji women have only recently enjoyed a "highly visible and vocal advocate" of their cause - Vice-President
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.
Fiji's week-long general election ends today with first results expected on Monday.
Dr Nicholl's article comprehensively analyses the Fiji alternative electoral system and its impact on women
representation in Parliament and compares this with other regional systems such as in New Zealand (proportional
representation - open) and South Africa (proportional representation - closed).
She offers Guam as a model where a Pacific island nation or territory has achieved high female representation in the
legislature.
The journal PJR also includes articles on the Australian and New Zealand political systems, representation of women in
online images at the Olympic Games and seduction and the "feminine" in the Australian news media.
New Zealand's Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor, a former newspaper editor, shows in another
article that little progress has been made with women being appointed to top editorial management positions.
Yvonne Densem, of the NZ Broadcasting School, explores the gender imbalance in New Zealand's journalism courses with a
research article entitled "Where have all the young men gone?".
The gender edition was co-edited by Dr Janet Bedggood and Allison Oosterman of AUT University's School of Communication
Studies.
Managing editor Dr David Robie said the edition also included other stimulating content, including an incisive analysis
of global media coverage of the Danish cartoons and Islam controversy, an article about HIV/AIDS and the Papua New
Guinea media, and a strong media book review section.
Pacific Journalism Review is published twice a year.
PJR Online:
Subscriptions:
+++niuswire
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE