Being a woman in politics: a look at inequalities with Djuna Bernard

As a trade union, we continuously work to protect workers' rights throughout the year. That’s why we believe it’s essential to talk about women’s rights all year round — not just around March 8.

Today, we are pleased to introduce Djuna Bernard, member of the Luxembourg Parliament, who shares her perspective and highlights the key issues that still require our attention.

Watch her opinion in the video (in French):

Text from video: "I am Djuna Bernard. I am a member of the Luxembourg Parliament and in this video, I’m going to talk to you about women’s rights and their importance today. I believe that women’s rights are never guaranteed, and I really see it on a global scale—there are regressive movements happening everywhere, and that’s why we need to invest more in defending our rights as women. And I think today more than ever, with the rise of the far right all over the world, women’s rights are not a given, and we must defend them loudly.

What bothers you in your daily life as a woman when it comes to your rights?

I’m a woman in politics, and I still notice that compared to my male colleagues, people tend to comment more on my appearance than on the content of what I say. It’s a real issue, and it deeply bothers me because I want to be elected for my ideas, for my proposals—not to receive comments about my blouse or my lipstick... It’s quite frustrating because, after a debate, from time to time, I get approached by people saying things like: “Oh, I liked your makeup,” or “You wore a nice blouse,” or sometimes even negative remarks. But I want to get feedback on the content—even negative feedback or not necessarily positive reactions—but I’m here as a politician for my content, for my ideas, not for my looks. And that’s frustrating.

Where has progress been made, and in which areas do we still need to move forward?

I think there has been a shift in awareness in the professional world: women continuing to work, balancing their role as mothers, and also fathers taking on a more active role. So, I believe that’s progress in how women see themselves—being both professionals and dedicated to family life. That’s a positive development.

However, where I believe there’s still a lot of work to do—and it’s a topic very close to my heart—is women’s health. A few weeks ago, we discussed in Parliament the disparities in women’s health: there’s a lack of research, a lack of awareness about conditions that only affect women. I think that when it comes to how we perceive the female body and women’s health, there’s still a lot of work to be done. And I believe progress in this area is urgently needed."