Sexism and Isolation: The Challenges Facing Women in Wallonia’s Local Politics
A new survey of 700 women elected to local office in Wallonia has laid bare the persistent challenges they face, from sexism and self-censorship to a glaring lack of paid maternity leave. Conducted by the Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie (UVCW) through its recently launched Réseau des Élues Locales, the study reveals that while legislative quotas have brought near-parity to municipal councils, women remain vastly underrepresented in executive roles and continue to encounter significant barriers in their daily work, as reported by RTBF.
A Legacy of Uneven Progress
Thirty years ago, women held just 9.4% of municipal council seats in Wallonia and only 5% of mayoral positions. Legislative reforms requiring gender alternation on electoral lists have since transformed the landscape. Following the October 2024 local elections, women now account for 40.6% of municipal councilors, according to RTBF’s analysis of the 2024 elections.
Yet this progress has not translated into executive power. Only 22.5% of Wallonia’s mayors are women, and the figures are even starker in police and emergency zone leadership. Geneviève Bernard-Rolans (MR), Mayor of Donceel, told RTBF: “At the police zone, we are nine communes and I am the only woman, the only woman mayor among the nine. And at the emergency zone, we are thirteen communes and I am also the only woman mayor.”
Daily Challenges: Workload, Credibility, and Balance
When asked about the heaviest burdens of their roles, 58.3% of respondents cited workload and availability demands. Work-life balance followed closely at 48.6%. Aurore Goyens (Les Engagés), an alderman in Wavre, described the struggle: “I am a single mother too, so being a local elected official means a lot of time, a lot of investment, a lot of working hours that are not always compatible with family life.”
Credibility and legitimacy emerged as a challenge for 34.7% of respondents. Gaëlle Denys (PS), President of the CPAS in Verviers, explained: “I feel that we always have to prove ourselves more than a man. Because we are women, we have to show twice as much that we are capable, that we can handle a political role.”
Sexism: One in Three Affected
More than a third of respondents (34.29%) reported having experienced sexist behavior. The most common form, cited by 75.33% of those affected, was having their competence and legitimacy doubted. Kyriaki Michelis (PS), an alderman in Wavre, noted: “Sexist remarks are far too common in the exercise of the function. They seem benevolent at first, but they always refer to physical appearance, to clothing.”
Gaëlle Denys pointed to a normalization of such behavior: “I think there is a trivialization. Sometimes we no longer realize that such a remark is sexist.”
Self-Censorship and Isolation
The survey found that 41.1% of women have given up on speaking in a meeting at least once. “I always feel destabilized because I know there is judgment there,” Michelis said. “Women elected officials have to do two or three times more work to be legitimate when speaking.”
Isolation is even more widespread: 82.3% of respondents reported feeling isolated at least occasionally. Virginie Stevens (MR), a municipal councilor in Incourt, offered a more hopeful perspective: “I think there is real sorority among women on the council. I really feel that we try to support each other.”
The Maternity Leave Gap
One of the most striking findings concerns the legal vacuum around maternity leave for local elected officials. Women can take up to 20 weeks of maternity leave but receive no pay from their municipality, CPAS, or health insurance. Gaëlle Denys, who recently gave birth, described the situation: “It is a major gap in the law that was not foreseen for local elected officials. On sick leave, an elected official would continue to receive her salary, but a pregnancy is not an illness.”
A Network for Change
In response to these challenges, the UVCW launched the Réseau des Élues Locales de Wallonie in February 2026. As reported by TéléSambre, the network aims to break isolation, share best practices, and strengthen the impact of women in local politics. Walloon Minister for Women’s Rights Yves Coppieters described it as “a concrete tool to break isolation, particularly in the face of sexist violence, including cyberharassment,” according to the UVCW press release.
What’s Next
The survey results, presented at the network’s inaugural colloquium on June 8, 2026, paint a clear picture: legislative quotas have succeeded in getting women into council chambers, but deeper structural and cultural changes are needed to keep them there and allow them to rise to executive positions. The maternity leave gap, in particular, represents a tangible barrier that will require legislative action. As more than 45% of survey respondents began their mandates after the 2024 elections, the experiences of this new cohort will be crucial in shaping the future of gender equality in Wallonia’s local politics.