I think we really need to pause and consider why it's so seemingly important that we need to shock the system. We may be 60th in the world and we may have less than 30%, but I like to think that our members of Parliament who are women are really astounding. I think we should be highlighting them and commenting on the fact that they worked hard for their position, and they are providing role models to young women.
However, when we start trying to set goals and targets, saying that it has to 40% or 50%, we don't know if voters will elect 40% or 50%. We don't know that 40% or 50% of seats in the House will be filled by women who are qualified in the view of the voters.
By setting targets, numbers, or goals arbitrarily, we are working off information that we simply don't have. What's worse is that we make women feel guilty who are uncertain about politics, or who perhaps don't want to be involved, but then feel pressured, thinking “I should do what's right by my gender; I should get involved.” I do not think we want to be encouraging that attitude.
Sixtieth—who cares, when we have such strong women already here?