The indicator for MDG3 – the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women with the priority being to increase women’s share of seats in national parliaments and local governmental bodies – is change in the percentage of seats held by women in national parliament. This indieator seems to assume that increasing the number of women in parliament will improve women’s empowerment, or at least help achieve equity. This paper considers whether this indicator is useful and does indeed accurately reflect the situation. It also suggests alternative indicators, and suggests ways in which changes to the political status quo could be achieved.