121
5
Although we were inspired by these two approaches, we found it suitable to
conduct our study of the reference groups in a manner that differed from both of
them.
The chain of explanations starts at the most local level and goes upward to an
increasingly larger scale. We began asking whether there were so few women in the
reference groups because many women had turned down requests to become members. During the research, we often heard the claim that the male dominance of the
reference groups was the result of women not being interested in questions of conservation and therefore not being involved in such efforts. If that claim was correct,
the study would support a ‘supply theory’ for political representation. According
to this theory, there are few women in politics, because women do not prioritize
politics (Norris and Lovenduski 1995).
We asked key actors in the appointments of eight reference groups if anyone
they had invited to join a group had declined the invitation, but all the interviewees
told us that they had not experienced any such cases. Hence, we concluded that a
supply theory could not explain the situation.
Nonetheless, we cannot reject a supply theory as irrelevant in all situations.
There may well be a number of reasons why women can be reluctant to accept
posts in a field that is otherwise dominated by men. But in order for a woman to
reject a post, the post must first have been offered.
By looking into possible causes at progressively higher levels, we found eight
causal links that together constitute the chain of explanations for the low participation of local women in the reference groups of the National Park Plan.
Causal link 1: In rural districts, a local elite of men tends to dominate the
political arena for management of areas and natural resources. Positions in that
arena carry status and provide power on issues considered to be very important.
These men are usually well along in years. The Chairmen of Mountain Boards are
often former mayors. The Chairman of the Mountain Board in one municipality
told us that the mayor of a neighbouring municipality had said that only one person in the municipality outranked him, and that was the Chairman of the Mountain
Board.
We have observed a taken-for-granted attitude that local positions on land use
and conservation are filled by men. This way of thinking seems also to have been
employed in the appointments of local members to reference groups of the
National Park Plan.
Causal link 2: Existing councils and organizations concerned with outfield
issues were asked to recommend members for the reference groups. These councils
and organizations are usually dominated by men, and they recommended few
women. Several of the interviewees in the public sector thought that this was a
prime reason for the men dominating the reference groups. However, these councils and committees were not asked by the municipalities to recommend both
women and men.
Causal link 3: The municipalities recommended reference group candidates.
Municipalities are required by law to implement gender equality with at least 40%
5.5 · Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are…
5
Although we were inspired by these two approaches, we found it suitable to
conduct our study of the reference groups in a manner that differed from both of
them.
The chain of explanations starts at the most local level and goes upward to an
increasingly larger scale. We began asking whether there were so few women in the
reference groups because many women had turned down requests to become members. During the research, we often heard the claim that the male dominance of the
reference groups was the result of women not being interested in questions of conservation and therefore not being involved in such efforts. If that claim was correct,
the study would support a ‘supply theory’ for political representation. According
to this theory, there are few women in politics, because women do not prioritize
politics (Norris and Lovenduski 1995).
We asked key actors in the appointments of eight reference groups if anyone
they had invited to join a group had declined the invitation, but all the interviewees
told us that they had not experienced any such cases. Hence, we concluded that a
supply theory could not explain the situation.
Nonetheless, we cannot reject a supply theory as irrelevant in all situations.
There may well be a number of reasons why women can be reluctant to accept
posts in a field that is otherwise dominated by men. But in order for a woman to
reject a post, the post must first have been offered.
By looking into possible causes at progressively higher levels, we found eight
causal links that together constitute the chain of explanations for the low participation of local women in the reference groups of the National Park Plan.
Causal link 1: In rural districts, a local elite of men tends to dominate the
political arena for management of areas and natural resources. Positions in that
arena carry status and provide power on issues considered to be very important.
These men are usually well along in years. The Chairmen of Mountain Boards are
often former mayors. The Chairman of the Mountain Board in one municipality
told us that the mayor of a neighbouring municipality had said that only one person in the municipality outranked him, and that was the Chairman of the Mountain
Board.
We have observed a taken-for-granted attitude that local positions on land use
and conservation are filled by men. This way of thinking seems also to have been
employed in the appointments of local members to reference groups of the
National Park Plan.
Causal link 2: Existing councils and organizations concerned with outfield
issues were asked to recommend members for the reference groups. These councils
and organizations are usually dominated by men, and they recommended few
women. Several of the interviewees in the public sector thought that this was a
prime reason for the men dominating the reference groups. However, these councils and committees were not asked by the municipalities to recommend both
women and men.
Causal link 3: The municipalities recommended reference group candidates.
Municipalities are required by law to implement gender equality with at least 40%
5.5 · Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are…