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Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Since the 2015 General Election, the U.K.’s House of Commons has accommodated 459 male MPs and 191 female MPs. That’s a seven percent increase on the number of women politicians elected in the preceding General Election in 2010, but still means that only 29 percent of British MPs are female. And this shot, thought to have been taken during a debate in 2013, shows just how male-dominated the House of Commons chamber really is.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Remove the men from the image, then, and the true extent of their domination becomes clear, despite the house now having a record number of female members.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Mohamed Morsi was the first leader in Egypt’s long history to be democratically elected. However, when he announced his new-look cabinet in August 2012 it was, perhaps predictably, dominated by men.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
In fact, the now ex-president – whose brief premiership came to a dramatic end in July 2013 – appointed just two women: one of whom was Nadia Zachary, who oversaw the scientific research ministry.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
When British actress Emma Watson delivered a speech on women’s rights at the United Nations in September 2014, she was seemingly completely surrounded – almost inevitably – by male delegates.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
“Men,” she told her audience, which looks a little lacking when the men are actually removed, “I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Back in 2007 Queen Elizabeth II was photographed with G20 leaders at Buckingham Palace in London, all of whom were there to enjoy a meal prepared by famous chef Jamie Oliver.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Aside from Her Majesty, however, there were just two other women in attendance – Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the Argentine president.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
When the 2012 soccer Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea went all the way to penalties, G8 leaders watched the match together in Camp David, Maryland and looked pretty engrossed.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
There was just one female – Germany’s Angela Merkel – in attendance, and she didn’t look too happy when Didier Drogba netted the penalty that won the trophy for the British side.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
U.K. current affairs show Newsnight once debated the prevalence of all-male TV panels. And while its own one here – from a program aired in September 2015 – wasn’t quite men only, it was certainly male dominated.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Indeed, take them out and only two women remain – broadcast journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer and politician Suzanne Evans.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
When Barack Obama authorized the assassination of Osama bin Laden in 2011 from the White House’s Situation Room, he was surrounded by his closest political allies and security advisers.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
But only one of them – Hilary Clinton, the then Secretary of State – was a woman. Take the men out of the equation and the Democratic presidential hopeful looks especially isolated.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
In 2013 African heads of state or their representatives and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon met at the base of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa. They were there to oversee the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government signing a peace agreement, following almost two decades of conflict in the country.
Image: YouTube/ELLEUKTV
Take the male delegates out, though, and just one female representative remains. Judging by her expression, it’s almost as if she’s wondering where they’ve got to.
Image: Twitter/TibetanFeminist
What’s more, this Chinese take on Elle’s #MoreWomen campaign is particularly eye-opening. Pictured here is the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the Communist Party of China – arguably the country’s seven most powerful people.
Image: Twitter/TibetanFeminist
As the preceding image shows, the PSC is entirely comprised of men. When they’re removed, then, all that remains is an empty stage.
Image: Twitter/TibetanFeminist
Another image from the Chinese series depicts Xi Jinping, the country’s president, meeting a delegation of ex-government officials and U.S. businesspeople in Beijing.
Image: Twitter/TibetanFeminist
Again, the party is male dominated. Remove the men and just two women – both of whom are American – remain. Aside, that is, from that phantom head, which can probably be blamed on poor Photoshopping skills. Regardless, though, this image and all the others from the Chinese series and Elle’s campaign are without doubt food for thought when it comes to women’s participation in politics around the world.