What is democracy without women?

Women make up half of the world’s population, work two-thirds of the world’s working hours, earn one-tenth of the world’s income, and own less than one hundredth of the world’s property. These fact from the 1996 UN report are graphic evidence of the real inequality between men and women in terms of rights and opportunities, which is the major problem in all countries, Ukraine being no exception. To love and respect women in our time means to change the social system that breeds this inequality and to provide women with equal rights and opportunities. This is especially crucial for our society, where the women’s question is especially acute.

Women make up 54% of Ukraine’s population. They are generally better educated than men. Among people with university and college degrees, 64% are women. They dominate in many spheres of social life, e.g. in culture and health care. Women’s role is becoming more important in our days. In Western Ukraine family roles are changing, with men staying at home to raise children while women travel to Western Europe to earn a living. Nearly 70% of Ukrainian labor migrants in Italy, Spain, Portugal are women. In our difficult times women are proving to be more mobile, flexible and capable of adapting to new conditions that men. That’s why they often have to shoulder the burden of supporting family.

It is interesting to analyze the extent to which the major role played by women in our society their interests and needs are reflected in the country’s political life. Women account for 4% of lawmakers in parliament, the current percentage of female members of local assemblies is between 7% and 10%. Let us compare statistics on women in leadership positions in other countries. The highest percentage of women’s representation has been recorded in Northern Europe – Denmark, Sweden and Norway – from 40 to 50% of lawmakers. In Western Europe it is higher than worldwide – 20% to 30%. To encourage women’s representation and protect women’s rights in Third World countries, their parliaments have introduced quotas for women’s presence in government bodies. The Bangladeshi parliament may not have less than 10% of women lawmakers. This figure is 20% for the legislative assembly of India.

Ukraine, the Central Asia republics, Moldova, Russia and Belarus are outsiders when it comes to resolving one of the most urgent problems of our era: women’s political equality. Resolute action is needed to eradicate such a humiliating and degrading phenomenon as trafficking, which has reached catastrophic proportions throughout the world. This phenomenon threatens to undermine both the physical and moral health of the Ukrainian nation. Besides, it is important to take a number of steps aimed at supporting women and strengthening their social positions in the labor market, business, and life. One of the biggest problems is women’s unemployment. There is a need for normal legal and organizational conditions for the development of small and medium businesses, which would resolve the problem of women’s employment and help them become financially independent.

The new leaders who have come to power on the cusp of the revolution should finally grasp the simple truth that a democracy without women is not democracy.

Oleksandr Hubenko

The Day, March 29, 2005

Points for discussion:

1. The role of women in changing contemporary society.

2. European equality and Ukrainian inequality.

3. Phenomena that threatens Ukrainian society.