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MARS OUTSHINES VENUS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS POLITICS
EurasiaNet.org
Aug 20 2013
August 20, 2013 - 12:37pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze
To many, it may come as no surprise. Politics is a man's world in the
South Caucasus, where women remain a legislative minority, according
to recent data from the World Bank.
The study showed that, regionally, Armenia has the lowest share
of female parliamentarians, at 11 percent of its 131-seat National
Assembly. Georgia comes next on the list with 12 percent, though the
2012 election marked a slight improvement. Azerbaijan is doing the
best, though the female presence in its 125-seat Milli Majlis still
stands at a modest 16 percent.
Azerbaijan is also doing better than Russia (14 percent), and, like
its Caucasian neighbors, far better than Ukraine, which, with women
accounting for nine percent of its 450-seat legislature, boasts the
most testosterone-heavy parliament among the former Soviet republics.
Many Azerbaijanis might say that their country comes naturally
by this regional first . While often socially conservative toward
the roles of women (public criticism of President Ilham Aliyev's
wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, as an MP tends to be studiously avoided),
Azerbaijan, under its short-lived Azerbaijani Democratic Republic
(1918-1921), became the first predominantly Muslim country to give
women the vote.(The country has enjoyed less success in other areas
of women's rights; according to the United Nations Population Fund,
violence against women has reached "epidemic proportions.")
Still, the South Caucasus numbers on women in politics are nowhere
near European averages. Both Armenia and Georgia have introduced
affirmative action rules to ensure larger legislative representations
for women, but things do not always turn out as planned. At Armenia's
last election, in 2012, quotas were meant to ensure a minimum-20
percent female representation in parliament, but only 14 women ended
up being elected.
Local observers place the blame both on men and traditional views
on gender roles. Armenian and Georgian men often tend to prefer to
have women legislate at home rather than in national assemblies,
while combining a political career with marriage and parenthood
can sometimes prove a tall order for local women, given cultural
stereotypes. "Political office is a pillar for business and men are
not ready to let go of such positions," Elena Vardanian, chairperson
of the Armenian Public Council's Committee for Gender and Demography,
told IWPR.
Some believe that the bare-knuckle style of regional politics also
discourages women from running for parliament -- although, conceivably,
frustration with such antics could also play a role.
Parliamentarian Eliso Chapidze of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream
coalition noted that "some aggressive attitudes" do exist among male
MPs toward their female colleagues. "When men run short of arguments
and can't fight intellect with intellect, they start saying that
women have other, family-related matters on their minds," Chapidze
told Georgian Public Broadcasting.
Minority United National Movement member Tinatin Bokuchava agreed,
though, that "the unhealthy," sometimes violent, practices in local
politics keeps women away. "Women don't want to come to politics
because they know that they may even face physical violence,"
Bokuchava said.
In her comments to IWPR, a successful Armenia politician, Naira
Zarobian, of the Prosperous Armenia Party, advised Armenian women
to break away from the socially dictated gender roles and be more
assertive in politics. "First, we have to overcome our complexes,
and then we will demand gender equality from men," she said.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67412
EurasiaNet.org
Aug 20 2013
August 20, 2013 - 12:37pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze
To many, it may come as no surprise. Politics is a man's world in the
South Caucasus, where women remain a legislative minority, according
to recent data from the World Bank.
The study showed that, regionally, Armenia has the lowest share
of female parliamentarians, at 11 percent of its 131-seat National
Assembly. Georgia comes next on the list with 12 percent, though the
2012 election marked a slight improvement. Azerbaijan is doing the
best, though the female presence in its 125-seat Milli Majlis still
stands at a modest 16 percent.
Azerbaijan is also doing better than Russia (14 percent), and, like
its Caucasian neighbors, far better than Ukraine, which, with women
accounting for nine percent of its 450-seat legislature, boasts the
most testosterone-heavy parliament among the former Soviet republics.
Many Azerbaijanis might say that their country comes naturally
by this regional first . While often socially conservative toward
the roles of women (public criticism of President Ilham Aliyev's
wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, as an MP tends to be studiously avoided),
Azerbaijan, under its short-lived Azerbaijani Democratic Republic
(1918-1921), became the first predominantly Muslim country to give
women the vote.(The country has enjoyed less success in other areas
of women's rights; according to the United Nations Population Fund,
violence against women has reached "epidemic proportions.")
Still, the South Caucasus numbers on women in politics are nowhere
near European averages. Both Armenia and Georgia have introduced
affirmative action rules to ensure larger legislative representations
for women, but things do not always turn out as planned. At Armenia's
last election, in 2012, quotas were meant to ensure a minimum-20
percent female representation in parliament, but only 14 women ended
up being elected.
Local observers place the blame both on men and traditional views
on gender roles. Armenian and Georgian men often tend to prefer to
have women legislate at home rather than in national assemblies,
while combining a political career with marriage and parenthood
can sometimes prove a tall order for local women, given cultural
stereotypes. "Political office is a pillar for business and men are
not ready to let go of such positions," Elena Vardanian, chairperson
of the Armenian Public Council's Committee for Gender and Demography,
told IWPR.
Some believe that the bare-knuckle style of regional politics also
discourages women from running for parliament -- although, conceivably,
frustration with such antics could also play a role.
Parliamentarian Eliso Chapidze of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream
coalition noted that "some aggressive attitudes" do exist among male
MPs toward their female colleagues. "When men run short of arguments
and can't fight intellect with intellect, they start saying that
women have other, family-related matters on their minds," Chapidze
told Georgian Public Broadcasting.
Minority United National Movement member Tinatin Bokuchava agreed,
though, that "the unhealthy," sometimes violent, practices in local
politics keeps women away. "Women don't want to come to politics
because they know that they may even face physical violence,"
Bokuchava said.
In her comments to IWPR, a successful Armenia politician, Naira
Zarobian, of the Prosperous Armenia Party, advised Armenian women
to break away from the socially dictated gender roles and be more
assertive in politics. "First, we have to overcome our complexes,
and then we will demand gender equality from men," she said.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67412