Degrading treatment, cultural prohibition and not enough support are some of the barriers women have to endure in the race against men to represent their constituencies at the decision-making level, according to women parliamentarians. 

A proposed change on the 10 per cent quota for women was debated by parliamentarians on Friday providing for the replacement of the reference currently as additional members to women MPs that occupy the seat. 

There are currently two additional members in the House who satisfied the minimum 10 per cent (six women) quota following the 2021 General Election and subsequently expanded the number of seats to 53. 

Additional woman MP from Aleipata Itupa I Lalo, Faagasealii Sapoa Feagiai was supportive of the incentive when she spoke on Friday on the Constitution Amendment No.2 Bill 2025. 

But the proposed reference to women as woman MP raised concerns from Faagasealii that suggested the new reference has now taken away the recognition of women and their identity. 

According to the additional MP, women who contest election qualify because they are a matai and register from a district where they render service to the village and church. 

However, Faagasealii felt the reference to just woman MP does not recognise and acknowledge the districts where the women are from under the quota. 

She argued the proposed law will now remove the recognition of the respective district the women MP came from urging the Prime Minister to reconsider this amendment. 

Furthermore, she said some reasons why women are discouraged from running for office is because men are under the impression they head the family and are superior. 

She reminded men that they may be the head of the family but women are the neck and wherever the neck wants the head to turn it has to follow. 

Faagasealii also called on women and girls to lift their women up instead of being the ones who degrade and put their peers down. 

MP for Palauli No1, Mulipola Anarosa Ale–Molioo raised several points about women and their achievements in various sectors and industries.

Mulipola then asked the question if the House had anticipated the poor treatment that women MPs come under the quota had to endure from degrading comments made against them. 

Speaking about women's achievements, she noted many have become carpenters, church ministers, engineers, pilots, judges, prime ministers and heading many businesses and government offices. 

Mulipola continued then why is it that when it comes to parliament there is special treatment of women, adding that women are unable to reach the required votes to do so. 

She said the answer is many women don’t want to run for office. She said to defeat male candidates there were a lot of preparations that women needed to do outside of parliament. 

Another barrier that women have to overcome she said is intimidation from men within village settings who make mockery of women and do not see their views as important. 

Mulipola said some village councils do not allow women to sit in village meetings, others impose limitations by bestowing them matai titles as observers. 

She also noted that the $1 million development project composition of 50 per cent of women in the committee and 20per cent of the grant to advocate for women's empowerment however this was not achieved. 

Mulipola then challenged women that they too can do it in their way and entering parliament against their competitors without the 10per cent quota is sweet and a different feeling. 

Parliament debate was adjourned on Friday afternoon and will resume on Monday.