Importance of women's political empowerement - Gurmai Zita

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Kaysa Penny Importance of women's political empowerment We need to be the change we call for in our societies "We need more women in politics" is a line often heard from women's organisations, but also from political parties and decision-makers. Yet any trends of increasing numbers of women in parliaments or in governments are stagnant or slow at best. There are obviously many reasons for this, but I'd like to analyse one aspect in particular. In order to get involved in politics, one needs to get involved in parties at one level or another. And it is the parties themselves who either help or hinder female participation. It is not alone about policies, statements or legislation, but practical issues that determine whether women can get involved or not. For a young mother - a very attractive person from party political point of view - getting involved is often most problematic. Not only are we juggling with work, childcare and other responsibilities, but we should find time to sit in meetings, go campaigning and participate in different events as well. Now, if you are interested in politics, you are also interested in taking part in all of this, that is not the problem for most women. The question is far simpler. When and where do these meetings take place, and are the events organised so that a new parent can possibly participate? Most of the time the meetings take place in the weekday evenings relatively late, in cramped offices, taking hours in end. Taking young children with you around bedtime is difficult at best of times, not everyone has a partner who can or is willing to care for the children, and finding child-care is not an option for everyone. On bigger events we rarely see children. Either, mothers and fathers - in order to participate - have to find somewhere to leave their children, or not participate. And if someone brings their children with them, the reception is often far from welcoming. But it wouldn't need to be this way. It is very easy for a political movement to be supportive and welcoming for young mothers, and fathers, who wish to be involved, and have no access to ever-available, super-flexible care options. I wish to share a couple of great experiences from the youth movement, as we have found some ways to ease, and encourage participation of the young parents and families. In the Congress of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth SSU last summer I was happy to see a high number of children from new-born babies to school age kids. The Congress hall was 59
60 We need to be the change we call for in our societies packed with young social democrats eager to get their opinions heard, and amongst them, or mostly on the passages around and in front of the seats you had a number of children running and collecting nothing but smiles and welcomes from those around. Just outside the Congress hall SSU had built a nice and calm area of bean-bags and sofas, where kids were sitting, drawing, reading and playing games. The Congress was orchestrated by a secretary-general, who's two children were among the others, occasionally wanting to join their dad in the proceedings on stage. Our Austrian comrades organised a successful IUSY Festival last summer in Attersee for 2500 young socialists from across the world. They also made sure that those who came with their children felt welcome. There was not only the calm place to sleep (a festival can be a rather noisy place to be) organised with zero fuss, but also special invites to Rubber Duck races and a bouncy castle just for the kids. Small, but ever so significant gestures that make the experience positive for the families. The European Youth Forum has a standing policy of organising child-care during their longer events on demand for participating parents. All you need to do is to tell the organisers at registration that you'd need it, and it will be taken care of. For us in ECOSY, it is obvious that any parent could bring their children with them to our meetings or events. I have myself had my daughters in our Congresses and Bureau meetings, and have always been facilitated kindly and supportively by the Secretariat. Next summer we - ECOSY - are organising a summer camp in Croatia. We have committed ourselves from the beginning into making the camp accessible and enjoyable for all our members, including and especially for those with young children. We are looking into organising a crèche, making it possible for the parents to participate in the program. We have asked to borrow the bouncy castle from the Austrians this year as well, and we wish to organise program that is family friendly. This in addition to the obvious accommodation and hygiene issues that we're making sure are fit for children as well. These all are examples of small, inexpensive practises that are empowering young mothers by simply being there. You don't even need to take use of them, but knowing that the organisation, or a party, you are considering getting active in, welcomes you, supports and helps you out, can be the deciding factor. The big picture of gender equality is built up from smaller ones. The greatest policy only works if the attitudes of the society support it. And the change must start from within. We need to be the change we are calling for; we are the ones who can make it a real possibility for young women, and especially young mothers to participate. More information: http://www.ssu.se
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4 Contents Rovana PLUMB Importance
Page 8 and 9: Daša Šašić Šilović Foreword o
Page 10: Zita Gurmai Member of the European
Page 13 and 14: 12 Foreword of the publisher backla
Page 16 and 17: Besima Boric Importance of women's
Page 18: Importance of women's political emp
Page 22 and 23: Sylvie Guillaume Women’s empowerm
Page 28 and 29: Zita Gurmai Importance of women's p
Page 30 and 31: Importance of women's political emp
Page 32: Edit Herczog Member of the European
Page 35 and 36: 34 Political empowerment of women t
Page 38 and 39: Mija Javornik Importance of women's
Page 44 and 45: Sonja Lokar Importance of women's p
Page 48: Sanja Major Adviser, City Office fo
Page 51 and 52: 50 Being a young woman in Croatia t
Page 54 and 55: Thomas Maes Importance of women's p
Page 62: Rovana Plumb Member of the European
Page 65 and 66: 64 Importance of women's political
Page 68: Professor Dr.h.c.Christa Randzio-Pl
Page 71 and 72: 70 Women in Politics political solu
Page 74: Brigita Schmögnerová former Vice
Page 77 and 78: 76 Women’s voice to be heard The
Page 80: Judit Tánczos Policy Advisor, Foun
Page 83 and 84: 82 Forever assistants? Challenges o
Page 86: Patrizia Toia Member of the Europea
Page 89 and 90: 88 Greater equality for all If we a
Page 92: Britta Thomsen Member of the Europe
Page 95 and 96: 94 The importance of political empo
Page 98 and 99: Attila Benedek - Márta Bonifert Im
Page 102 and 103: Closing remarks Importance of women
Page 104 and 105: Annex Importance of women's politic
Page 106 and 107: Dan JØRGENSEN Denmark Socialdemokr
Page 108 and 109: António Fernando CORREIA DE CAMPOS
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Richard HOWITT United Kingdom Labou
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Importance of women's political emp
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Annex II Charts and figures Women i
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Republic of Korea Importance of wom
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Gender quotas in the EU Source: Der
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CEE Network for Gender Issues The C
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Importance of women's political empowerement - Gurmai Zita

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