MP Maria Browne on the Challenges of Being the Only Woman in Parliament

Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Renewal Maria Browne has spoken about the challenges of being the only female Member of Parliament in the lower house, highlighting the need for greater female representation in Antigua and Barbuda’s political landscape.

Speaking in an interview marking International Women’s Day, Ms Browne acknowledged the difficulties of navigating a male-dominated space but said she remains committed to paving the way for other women.

“Being the lone female in the lower house… it gets lonely,” she said. “Sometimes men do not see things the same way as we women do, and it would definitely help if we had more women sitting in the same space as I’m sitting so that we can have a greater voice.”

Ms Browne emphasised that increasing female representation in Parliament is essential to ensuring that women’s perspectives are adequately reflected in policymaking.

“There’s a louder voice in numbers,” she said. “Where two and three are gathered, the voice is amplified.”

She acknowledged that political life can be challenging for women, noting that many face public scrutiny and personal attacks that discourage them from entering politics.

“Not having enough support as a woman… that has been the most disheartening aspect of politics for me,” she said. “Sometimes women are afraid to step out and stand up with other women, especially when you’re in the midst of mudslinging… the moment you step up and defend a fellow female, the mud comes at you too.”

Ms Browne said this dynamic has led to fewer women engaging in politics and called for a shift towards action rather than just discussions on gender parity.

“We have to quit the talking alone and couple it with action so that we’re able to actually see positive changes and get some sort of parity, especially in politics for women,” she said.

Reflecting on her own journey into politics, Ms Browne said she did not initially plan on entering public office but had always felt a strong calling to serve others.

“I’ve always wanted to help people, I’ve always wanted to serve, I’ve always wanted to be of assistance and of a positive impact to individuals, especially women and girls,” she said.

When approached by members of her community and party to step forward as a candidate, she said she took time to reflect before making the decision.

“I decided, okay, I’m going to pray about it,” she said. “I felt that it was incumbent on me to go forward.”

While acknowledging the barriers women face in political leadership, Ms Browne urged young women to pursue their ambitions and not be discouraged.

“Don’t ever give up,” she said. “If you have a fire in you, if there’s a passion in you to go out and be great and do something that you want to do… if you can think it, you can do it.”

As the only woman in the lower house, Ms Browne said she has had to be “a little bit more forceful” in making her voice heard.

She also noted that broader societal support, including mentorship and advocacy, is needed to encourage more women to enter politics.

“We need to probably form more groups, more support groups,” she said. “There is value in our words, but there’s so much more value in our actions.”

Ms Browne pointed to churches and community organisations as key allies in this effort, adding that collective action can help amplify women’s voices.

“The more interaction we have among females and intergroup as well, the more discussion we’ll have… a louder voice together, singing one song, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with,” she said.

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