September 26, 2024 | Vancouver is Awesome via UVic News
A recent article discussing the representation of women in the upcoming B.C. provincial election reveals that 60% of NDP candidates, 45% of Green candidates, and 25% of Conservative candidates are women. Despite efforts, only 42.5% of MLAs elected in the last provincial election were women, falling short of the 50-50 gender parity goal.
Kimberly Speers, an assistant teaching professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration, emphasizes the need for political parties in B.C. to ensure their representatives reflect the population’s diversity. She highlights the potential consequences of failing to do so, such as voters feeling unrepresented and choosing parties that better reflect their needs. Speers also discusses the barriers women face in politics, including threats of violence and unequal access to resources.
Dr. Speers also serves as the Masters’ Project advisor for students in the Masters of Public Administration program. Prior to working at UVic, she received an Outstanding Faculty Award (2009) at the University of Manitoba and a President’s Committee Community Outreach Award (2008).
Kimberly Speers has a strong background in public administration, having worked in various roles including management consulting and government relations. Speers is actively involved in campaign management at the local government level, frequently providing expert commentary to media outlets on political matters.
In 2020, Dr. Speers co-authored three research snapshots about early childhood development, youth mental health programs, and youth with complex needs. You can find these papers and more at our online repository, UVicSpace.
Photo by Element5 Digital
