The Rooms Where Decisions Are Made - and Who Is Left Outside

Important conversations are going on in all sorts of rooms. 

Most of these are rooms we aren’t invited to join, at the moment. Does it feel like your opinions and suggestions aren’t valued or heard? Ever thought about the changes you could make if only you had the right platform to speak from?

We were very privileged to receive an invitation to visit the House of Lords recently, to take part in a cross party committee, led by Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson, on a very real issue for our community…

Why aren’t there more disabled women throwing their hats in the ring to play a part in UK politics and represent their communities? What stops us? What are the physical and psychological barriers that prevent more disabled women becoming MPs?

Out of 650 MPs, 264 are women, around 41% in total. 

Only 12 out of the 650 members identify as having a disability, around 1.9%.

Only 2 of those are women, around 0.31%! 

It was really interesting thinking around the whole issue. But to me it boiled down to the same barriers that prevent women from progressing in most jobs. Like starting a business, asking for a promotion, applying for a job, applying for a business loan or speaking out at a local council meeting. 

We don’t feel like we have a place at the table, our voices aren’t respected, we have imposter syndrome in those rooms and despite progress, it still feels like a man’s world out there. 

It does make you wonder how many of the 264 female MPs have a disability they are reluctant to identify with because of the fear of judgement and being seen as less than if they shared it. This is common in the workplace where, overall, studies suggest that around one-third to half of disabled employees in the UK choose not to disclose their disability to their employer, due to fear of stigma, discrimination, or lack of confidence in receiving support.

This is especially common with invisible illness. If, like me, you have a visible limb difference, you have no choice. But what’s pushing someone to keep that part of their life secret, perhaps resulting in them being unable to get the tools to do their job the same way their colleagues can? 

Do you keep your chronic illness or disability a secret from employers and colleagues? Why do you do it and does it make your working life harder or does it feel easier than being judged and stigmatised?

We would love to hear from you. ❤

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