There is a huge difference in gender representation in Parliament, globally, even between Western countries that have no quota.

I live in New Zealand where we have a 34% female Parliament (no quotas). We have also had 2 female Prime Ministers so far. In the USA I think female representation is just 25%, and in the UK it is even worse at 20% – Parliament still has a 'boys club' feel to it. In the Nordic countries female representation in Parliament hovers near or at 40% (however some of those countries have a gender quota). Rwanda is the only country in the world that has a majority female Parliament (around 52% I think).

Ideally, quotas would not be necessary. But there are definitely country differences in how much girls are encouraged towards politics (as a career). The UK and the USA are very similar countries to New Zealand, yet New Zealand's gender representation in Parliament is vastly better – it has managed to have two female presidents and a current 34% female Parliament (without the use of quotas).

If quotas are not going to be used, there should be programmes and policies encouraging girls and women into politics in the USA and in the UK. Perhaps that would make the female representation in Parliament less dismal. Parliament is the primary lawmaker in a nation, therefore it is very important that you have a diverse and representative Parliament. In New Zealand the only quota we have is for Maori seats in Parliament – this is good because it means that we end up with about 10% of our seats going to our indigenous group (this is equivalent to the proportion of Maori people in our population).