Forum

What affects the involvement of women in the political space?

Influences

Traditional social and gender norms can significantly influence women’s decisions to become more active in politics. To the extent that the belief that politics is a place where (more appropriate and wiser) decisions are mainly made by men and women are assigned the role of caretakers of private spaces and problems is still prevalent in a community, this greatly inhibits their level of participation and interest in politics.

If the political socialization of a community is committed to maintaining gender stereotypes and reproducing traditional gender norms, instead of being based on the principles of inclusion and equality (in families, schools and practices of the political system), the latter represents a major obstacle for women to enter politics more actively. Women who may decide to enter politics more actively are, at every step, aware of the treatment of female politicians within the political arena and in society at large. It is also important to add the media representation of women in politics. To the extent that women who co-create the current political space in the media are subjected to unequal treatment and receive sexist and chauvinistic ridicule that remains unreflected and uncriticized, we are not thereby creating encouraging conditions for the wider inclusion of women in politics.

With supporting legal and institutional frameworks, the electoral system can significantly contribute to greater representation of women in politics. In Slovenia, after many years of a democratic deficit brought about by the low proportion of women in politics, by amending the constitution, we prescribed a minimum proportion for each gender on candidate lists (gender quotas), which contributed to more equal representation. First, this share was prescribed for elections to the European Parliament (2004; target share: 40%), then for elections at the local level (to municipal and city councils) (2005; target share: 40%) and finally for elections to the National choir (2006; target share: 35%). We must also attribute the significant jumps in the share of women in the National Assembly to the emergence of new parties, which achieve good results in the elections and, due to a narrower base, also appoint women to electable places and districts, and not so much to an actual change in (political) culture and overcoming gender stereotypes in the field of women in politics .

Political parties can actively contribute to the promotion of women’s political participation – they can introduce internal systems of gender quotas that provide for women to be represented even in the highest party positions, and the existing differences between the sexes within party structures can also be overcome by preferential treatment of female candidates. Clients can offer mentoring programs to (younger) women who are potentially interested in political activity, which would enable them to become more familiar with the nature of work and the necessary skills and knowledge for effective political decision-making. Political parties can establish special sections that deal with issues related to the role and position of women in society: gender equality, reproductive rights, balancing professional and private life and the like, thus (indirectly) enabling women to enter the political arena more broadly. Parties must also adequately address the issue of potential gender-based violence, discrimination and harassment (with appropriate mechanisms and strategies), thereby creating a safe space committed to achieving gender equality.

As the burdens of balancing work and private life are still unevenly distributed around the world on the shoulders of women, who carry out far greater amounts of caring and household work than men, the latter may discourage them from more active participation in politics, which requires a lot of time and absence. Also, in order to achieve a more equal representation of women in politics, it is important to promote practices of reconciling professional and private life, which are based on gender equality and which actively encourage men to perform caring and household tasks.

Because politics is still understood as a space in which mainly men operate for centuries, it is difficult for women to access targeted education, training and the creation of ties with centers of political power, which could open the door to the world of politics.

The challenges of women's entry into politics:

Women continue to face entrenched stereotypes and prejudices in many parts of the world, which call into question their capacity for leadership and undermine their credibility and potential effectiveness in political roles.

Women in politics are subjected to various forms of sexism, ranging from microaggressions to outright harassment, creating an environment that discourages them from participating and prevents them from advancing.

  • Focus on appearance rather than policy: Women politicians receive disproportionate media attention focusing on their appearance, private life and behaviour. They are also the most frequently questioned about how they manage to balance work and private life. This attention often tends to overshadow the discussion of their policy proposals and their contributions.
  • Stereotypical portrayals of women politicians: The way women in politics are portrayed in the media often reinforces gender stereotypes, pigeonholes them into narrow roles and undermines their authority and credibility as leaders.
  • Invasive reporting: intrusive media coverage of the private lives of women politicians can be a disincentive for potential candidates to participate in politics.
  • Influence on public opinion: Media bias against women politicians shapes public opinion, influences voter attitudes and reinforces existing biases against women in leadership.

Although women make up half of the population, they are still significantly under-represented in political leadership and decision-making positions. As a result, policies and priorities may not fully reflect women’s needs and concerns.

Social norms and institutional structures perpetuate gender inequality in politics, creating systemic barriers that hinder women’s progress and perpetuate the status quo.

The lack of visible female political role models can discourage aspiring women from pursuing a career in politics, thus further widening the gender gap in political representation.

How can (young) women be empowered to enter the political arena?

Providing young women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate the political environment and take on leadership roles from an early age through comprehensive active citizenship and mentoring programmes tailored to young women.

Involving young women in advocacy organisations such as student councils, youth parliaments and the like helps them realise the potential platform for active political participation, voicing their concerns and ideas and advocating for change in their communities.

highlighting young female leaders and their achievements in politics can inspire and empower other young women to imagine themselves as future political leaders, breaking glass ceilings and walls and challenging stereotypes.

harnessing the power of social media and digital platforms to amplify young women’s voices in politics allows for greater participation and connectivity, and more effective mobilisation of support, awareness and action on the issues they care about.

Advocating for youth-friendly policies, such as lowering the voting age, increasing youth representation in decision-making bodies and implementing inclusive governance structures, empowers young women to actively shape policies and push for priorities that particularly affect their lives.

Encouraging young women’s participation in social initiatives, volunteering and community work builds a sense of civic responsibility and empowerment and lays the foundation for their future involvement in political activism and leadership.

Ponudba programov za razvoj vodstvenih sposobnosti, delavnic in usposabljanj, prilagojenih posebej za mlade ženske (EWA), spodbuja bistvene vodstvene sposobnosti, kot so komunikacija, pogajanje in strateško razmišljanje, ter jim omogoča, da postanejo učinkovite zagovornice sprememb znotraj svojih skupnosti.

Let's bust the myths

about women in politics

  • Women are not strong or decisive enough for politics. This is a common misconception based on the stereotype that women are less capable of leadership and making strong political decisions.
  • Politics is too dirty and aggressive for women. This is a prejudice that discourages women from political involvement, because politics is supposed to be associated with aggression and inappropriate behavior.
  • Women are more successful in the role of caregivers and family caretakers. This misconception stems from traditional gender roles and focuses on women's role as caretakers, which can limit their opportunities for political activity.
  • Women are not interested in politics. This prejudice is based on the assumption that women have no interest in political matters and prefer to devote themselves to other fields.
  • Women in politics deal only with women's issues. This prejudice (similar to the previous one) reduces the role of women in politics to issues related to women's rights, while ignoring their ability to solve a wider range of social issues.
  • Women are more inclined to compromise than conflict. This misconception is based on assumptions that women are less inclined to take strong political positions and more compromise

Women in politics

LET'S (RE)COUNT!

34/195

Only 31 out of 195 countries in the world have women serving as presidents or heads of government.

26,5%

Women occupy 26.5 percent of parliamentary seats.

>1/4

Globally, less than one in four ministers are women (22.8 percent).

It is important to note that women most frequently lead ministerial positions related to human rights, gender equality, and social security, while men dominate in political areas such as defense and economy.

Women account for approximately half of the population, and their views and experiences may differ significantly from those of men due to their unequal position in society.

Election rights

MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN'S VOTING RIGHTS

Key Chapter

The movement for women's suffrage represents one of the key chapters in the history of efforts for gender equality and ensuring democratic rights for all.

A DECADE-LONG JOURNEY

The movement, marked by a global battle that lasted for decades, began in the 19th century with clear efforts to secure voting rights for women and challenge the prevailing notion that active and passive political participation is exclusively the domain of men.

COURAGEOUS GUIDANCE

Under the leadership of brave and fearless activists and visionaries such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Emmeline Pankhurst, and many others, women around the world organized rallies, petitions, and campaigns to demand their fundamental right to participate in the democratic process.

  • These efforts faced fierce opposition from traditionalists and entrenched power structures, resulting in numerous arrests, harassment, and even violence against so-called suffragettes. Despite these obstacles, the movement persisted and gained momentum with each passing year. During this period, significant victories were won, such as the passage of the 19th Amendment in the United States in 1920, which granted women the right to vote, and similar legislative reforms in countries around the world. The women's suffrage movement not only expanded voting rights, but also encouraged broader social and political changes, challenged prevailing gender norms, and paved the way for later waves of feminist activism. Its legacy remains a powerful testament to the strength of collective action, resistance, and determination in the pursuit of equality and justice for all.
  • In Slovenia, there were significantly fewer barriers for women to participate in societies than in exercising their right to vote. Membership in societies undoubtedly helped women assert their political rights. The Law on Societal Rights and the Law on Gathering Rights regulated women's membership until World War I. In the first months after the war, the law prohibiting women from joining political parties was annulled. Women played prominent roles in philanthropic societies as early as the 19th century, such as the Shelter for the Protection of Small Children established in Ljubljana in 1834. They also played an important role in the establishment of the Evangelical Women's Society in 1852 and the Association of Merciful Women, the predecessor of the Red Cross, established in the 1860s.
  • Women's associations opened up more opportunities for women to participate in decision-making, including the General Women's Association's participation in the vote for the arrangement of the official relationships of the Regional Government of Slovenia. Throughout history, women's associations have also actively participated in political spheres by sending comments to state bodies and establishing close cooperation with the authorities. In addition to their role in associations, women actively participated in the struggle for the right to vote. In Slovenia, the right to vote was introduced in 1848, but was initially heavily restricted. The Styrian Regional Estates met in Graz and decided that women would vote with intermediaries, which meant that only 12% of the population had the right to vote. Nevertheless, women continued their struggle for equality and greater political role.
  • After the collapse of absolutism in 1861, the right to vote in Slovenia was again regulated, but it was still strongly limited to men and certain social groups. During the period of the rise of liberalism, at the provincial level, voting rights were still limited to men, with a gradual expansion to some provinces such as Carinthia, Carniola, Styria and Istria. In Kranjska, women first got the right to vote in 1886, and in Ljubljana in 1887, but in the beginning they were still limited in their actual participation at the polling station. Despite these restrictions, women persisted in their struggle for equality, equality and full political participation. Eventually, their efforts bore fruit, as universal suffrage for women in Slovenia was enacted in 1945, which represented an important milestone in the history of women's rights. This achievement was the result of a long struggle and active engagement of women and their supporters since the beginning of the organized feminist movement in Slovenia.

Why is it still important that women are actively involved in

POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING?​

  • Only the presence and equal treatment of all opinions of all members of a society can lead to the creation and adoption of policies and decisions that will be inclusive
  • In order to achieve gender equality, it is crucial to encourage greater engagement of women, assuming that the latter - in their political activity - contribute to reflecting on often overlooked topics such as discrimination based on gender; violence against women; balancing professional and private life; gender stereotypes and other issues related to gender equality
  • Ženske, ki so prebile stekleni strop in vstopile v moško trdnjavo politike, predstavljajo pomemben zgled mlajšim dekletom in ženskam, ki morebiti razmišljajo o podobnem udejstvovanju, pa se ob tem srečujejo s spolnimi stereotipi in družbenimi normami, ki jih lahko od aktivnega političnega dela odvračajo
  • Women who broke through the glass ceiling and entered the male stronghold of politics represent an important example to younger girls and women who may be thinking about similar activities, but at the same time they encounter gender stereotypes and social norms that can discourage them from active political work.
  • Creating a stimulating environment for the active political participation of all members of society must be a fundamental principle of every healthy democratic society, because only in this way can both the strengthening of democratic processes and the increase of citizens' trust in processes and institutions be achieved at the same time.

WOMEN IN POLITICS

IN SLOVENIA

1897
In 1897, the first women's newspaper, called Slovenka, began to be published on our soil
1898
In 1898, Slovenian teachers founded the first women's association
1905 - 1907
Between 1905 and 1907, women's societies and magazines stimulated a vigorous debate about the importance of extending suffrage to women
1911
In 1911, after a change in the law on political association, women were also given the opportunity to participate in party activities
2. svetovna vojna
During the Second World War, women joined the Women's Anti-Fascist Front and actively joined the fight against anti-fascism
1941
In 1941, the first woman was elected to parliament, and in 1945, the first minister was appointed
1946
In 1946, women's right to vote was enshrined in the constitution, although women could vote for the first time during World War II
1990
In 1990, the Parliamentary Commission for Women's Policy was established
1992
In 1992, the Office for Women's Policy was established
2004
In 2004, the Act on the Election of Members of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Parliament (ZVPEP) was adopted, which provides for a 40% presence of both sexes on the candidate lists, whereby it is essential that at least one candidate of each gender is placed in the upper half of the list;
2005
In 2005, amendments to the Local Elections Act (ZLV) ensure that candidate lists are formed in such a way as to ensure a 40% share of both sexes, and the candidates in the first half of the list must be placed alternately according to gender;
2006
In 2006, an amendment to the Act on Elections to the National Assembly (ZVDZ) introduces the requirement that no gender may be represented by less than 35% of the total actual number of candidates on the lists.
2022
In 2022, Slovenia elected the first female president in the history of Slovenia, Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, as well as the first president of the National Assembly - mag. Urško Klakočar Zupančič. The current government of the Republic of Slovenia (elected in the 2022 elections) includes seven female ministers (a third of the government members), one of whom is also the deputy prime minister.
maj 2022
The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia (DZ) in this mandate (from May 2022 onwards) has 36 female deputies, which means 40 percent of all members of the National Assembly and means 11.2 percent more female representatives of the DZ than in the previous composition (2018-2022 the proportion of women was in the National Assembly, 28.8 percent or 26 female MPs).
2022
There are 7 female representatives (17.5% of the total) sitting in the State Council, which has 40 members.
2022
In 2022, the percentage of women in the municipal councils of Slovenian municipalities increased from 34.4 percent to 34.98 percent, and the number of municipalities headed by women also slightly improved - out of 212 municipalities, 29 municipalities got mayorships ( in the previous mandate 22). Only one municipality in the country is headed by a woman, Nuška Gajšek, she is the mayor of the municipality of Ptuj.

women in politics

european union

1979
The first direct European elections were held in 1979, and 15.2% of women sat in the convocation of the parliament at that time. Before these elections, the European Parliaments consisted of male and female deputies who were appointed as delegates of national parliaments. During the more than twenty years of such an arrangement (1952 to 1979), only 31 female representatives made decisions in the parliament.
The last European elections
In Slovenia, we elected the same number of men and women in the last European elections.
2019
In 2019, the European Commission got its first president - Ursula von der Leyen, and in the same year Christine Legarde became the head of the European Central Bank.
January 2022
From January 2022, the first woman will preside over the European Parliament - Roberta Metsola, in the current convocation of the parliament, women occupy 8 of the 14 vice-presidential positions (in the previous convocation, only 5 were occupied).

TIMELINE OF THE FIGHT

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

1957
1957 – signing of the Treaty of Rome (gender equality becomes one of the fundamental values of the community with this treaty)
1975
1975 – The Council of the European Communities supports the principle of equal pay for women
1979
1979 - After the first direct elections, the parliament elects a woman as president - it became Simone Veil
1984
1984 – Parliament establishes the Women's Rights Committee
2000
2000 – The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is adopted, requiring equality between men and women in all areas
2014
2014 - Adoption of the directive on the prevention of violence against women and human trafficking
2019
2019 – Women occupy a record 40% of seats in parliamentary elections

the proportion of women and men in the European Parliament

  • WOMEN
  • MEN

(INTERNATIONAL) LAW
AND REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is a landmark document adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The document and the Platform for Action are a comprehensive framework for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in various fields, including politics. The Declaration emphasises the importance of increasing women’s representation in decision-making at all levels of government in several specific articles. 

 

Article 189: In addressing inequalities between men and women in power-sharing and decision-making at all levels, governments and other actors should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes by analysing the impact of specific policies and measures on both women and men before decisions are taken.

 

Article 195: Governments, national authorities, the private sector, political parties, trade unions, employers’ organizations, subregional and regional bodies, non-governmental and international organizations and educational institutions shall

o Provide leadership and self-esteem training to help women and girls, especially those with special needs, vulnerable groups of women and members of racial and ethnic minorities, build their self-confidence and encourage them to take up decision-making positions; 

o Have transparent criteria for decision-making positions and ensure gender balance in selection bodies;

o Establish a mentoring system for inexperienced women and, in particular, provide training, including in leadership and decision-making, public speaking and political campaign management.

 

The Maputo Protocol is a landmark legal instrument adopted by the African Union in 2003, formally known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. It specifically addresses women’s rights and their participation in various aspects of life, including political participation. The document emphasises the right of women to participate fully in the political and decision-making processes of their countries. States Parties are urged to take measures to ensure women’s equal participation in political governance, including the right to vote and to be elected, to hold political office and to participate in other public affairs.

 

Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia

 

Article 14

(Equality before the law) 

Everyone is guaranteed the same human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of ethnic origin, race, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, property, birth, education, social status, disability or other personal circumstances.

Everyone is equal before the law.

 

Article 43

(Right to vote)

The right to vote is universal and equal.

Every citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote and to stand as a candidate.

The law may determine when and how foreigners are entitled to vote.

The law shall establish measures for the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women in the election of state and local government bodies.

 

The EWA project is co-financed by the European Union from the funds of the Program for Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.  


Made with ❤ by Digitallea