Lost in a Men’s World: Women in local politics as Gender Empowerment Tool

Lost in a Men’s World:Women in local politics as Gender Empowerment Tool

Lect.univ.dr. Adriana Stefanel

Faculty of Journalism and Mass-Communication Studies,

University of Bucharest

[email protected]

Women in Romanian Politics-Facts and Numbers

• One woman ran for the Presidency in 23 years of democracy;• One woman president of a political party;• Any woman prime-minister in the same period; any vice-prime-minister either; • Less than 10% women ministers;• In 2012’s Parliament the percentage of women overcome the symbolic barrier

of 10%

Dialogue-driven Change in the Public Sphere - 2nd ESTIDIA Conference, Bari 3-5 October 2013

The Glass-ceiling in Romanian Politics

• Women and men do not (procentual )equally share the political power• In 2013’s Romania, public administration, defence, finance and foreign affairs are

still managed by male politicians (boy-clubs)• In the committee dealing with equal opportunities, there is only one woman, a clear

sign that in Romania equality is not for women• At the governmental level, in the last 10 years we note a improvement in the

presence of women ministers• In political parties is establish a model of exclusion of women from decision-making

spheres


Academic literature


Questions of our research

• How many women hold leadership positions in local politics?• What are the barriers that restrict access of women in politics?• Is the glass-ceiling model reproduced in deep layers of local politics?


Methodology

document analysis:

1. Central Electoral Office’s documents related to 2012 local election campaign

• list of candidates from all local units• election results

2. Local administrations web sites

3. Political parties web sites

4. Confidential data-base of party-members


Women in local politics

• 4 out of 42 administrative units (county) are led by women• 8 out of 84 women sub-prefects• no woman has been elected to lead a county council• A stronger female presence is reflected in the county secretaries: 15 out of a total of

37


Women mayorsTip de localitate

Mayors Women mayors

% women mayors

Vice-mayors Women vice-mayors

% women vice-mayors

comună 2593 112 4,14 1874 98 5,22

Oraș sub 10.000 locuitori

77 2 2,5 43 5 11.62


107 2 1,83 72 3 4,16


22 0 0 28 3 10,71


30 1 3,33 42 5 11,90

Oraș peste 500.000 locuitori

1 0 - 2 0 -


Women in executive positions

Tip de localitate Secretary Women secretary %

comună 2479 1307 52,72


70 39 55,71


104 52 50


23 8 34,78


27 8 29,62

Oraș peste 500.000 locuitori

1 0 -


Gender exclusion map


Barriers that restrict access of women in politics

• Willingness and ability to enter the political game• Overcoming filters preceding the candidature


Willingness and ability to enter the political game

Partid Vicepreședinți Secretariat

general

Alte structuri de

conducere

centrale

Structuri de

conducere locale

total femei total femei total femei total femei

PSD 15 3 9 2 99 13 35 1

PNL 13 1 10 2 17 4 46 0

PDL 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

PC 12 1 1 0 1 1 43 1


Women’s political organizations

these organizations have less power within the political parties and representing a platform for male leaders


Overcoming filters preceding the candidature

men women % women

County council 15669 1202 7,12

Local council 11975 3656 23,39


Conclusion

• Women are exception (statistical aberration) in local Romanian politics• The low presence of women in the areas of decision reduces the women chances of

fair representation and reinforces stereotypical second-class citizens with fewer rights and more obligations


Lost in a Men’s World: Women in local politics as Gender Empowerment Tool

Documents

Transcript of Lost in a Men’s World: Women in local politics as Gender Empowerment Tool