Current Issue
GENERO #27, 2023
Issue: 27
Year: 2023
ISSN: 1451-2203 (Print)
ISSN: 2620-181X (Online)
Publisher: Center for Gender and Politics and Center for Cultural Studies, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Imprint: Download as pdf
Table of Contents
TOPIC OF THE ISSUE: POLITICAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN – GLOBAL THEORY AND EMPIRICAL REALITY FROM SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
Women’s Good Political Representation
Summary / Abstract: In this ‘state of the art’ mapping the major contours of three decades of politics and gender analysis, Celis and Childs re-make the case for women’s group representation. Drawing on their recent book, Feminist Democratic Representation (2020), they call for rejecting traditional disaggregated conceptions of representation derived from Hanna Pitkin (1967) in favour of a procedural-plus approach. They hold that formal representational processes can and must accommodate women and do so in ways that take intersectionality seriously. Indeed, some three decades on from the publication of key presence theories – by Anne Phillips, Jane Mansbridge, and Melissa Williams – Celis and Childs urge politics and gender scholars to engage with recent work on democratic design as a means to re-design and re-build representative democracy ‘for’ women. In the face of women’s ongoing poverty of representation, feminist democratic design’s centering of equality has the potential to realize the good representation of all women, in their ideological and intersectional diversity, in and through electoral politics.
Keywords: political representation, gender, women, presence theories, democratic design, gender equality, descriptive representation, substantive representation, women’s interests, intersectionality
Page Range: 1-32
Language: English
Where Do We Go from Here? Enhancing Women’s Political Representation in the Local Councils of Albania
Summary / Abstract: Women’s representation in the local councils of Albania has increased almost fourfold in less than a decade. But – in the face of these numeric changes – there are growing concerns that numbers do not translate into political power and are used strategically by political leaders. We draw upon our experience of studying women’s political representation in local councils – and our engagement with national and international organizations – to discuss what we think should be the next steps for advancing women’s political representation in local councils. Our suggestions are useful for women’s rights advocates in Albania and other countries in the region facing similar development challenges.
Keywords: local councils, political representation, gender quotas, local development, Albania
Page Range: 33-54
Language: English
‘Small Pond Full of Crocodiles’: Elite Perceptions of the Impact of the Dayton Peace Agreement on Women’s Political Engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Summary / Abstract: The complicated political and institutional structure, which was put in place by the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), represents only one of several barriers to the political representation of women and their engagement in public life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The status of women in public life in this post-conflict and post-socialist society is quite complex. To understand how the interaction between the institutions of the state and the position of women are perceived, the paper focuses on the narratives based on interviewing different categories of elite actors and their perceptions of the impact of the DPA on the political system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the role of women within this system. The perceptions of interviewees are that the Constitution, being a peace agreement and also gender blind, has a negative impact not only on women but also on the society’s ability to grow politically. The paper also analyses interlocutors’ perceptions about the root causes for the fragmentation of the country’s political system and the variation in numbers of women represented at different levels of Government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially at the cantonal level.
Keywords: gender and consociationalism, The Dayton Peace Agreement, ethnic divisions, women’s role in the political system, women’s political representation, political elites, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Page Range: 55-80
Language: English
The Limits of Presence: Constraints on Women’s Political Representation in Serbia and Montenegro
Summary / Abstract: Women’s political representation has increased globally over the past few decades. Women are entering the political world in more significant numbers. This increase is visible among the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Within the last three decades, women have become present in greater numbers across the parliaments of the former Yugoslavia, primarily due to the adoption of gender quotas due to women’s movement activism. But is the presence of elected women enough to empower them politically and create “space” for activism, advocacy, and subsequently higher levels of substantive representation? In this work, I pose this main research question and focus on two country case studies from the region, namely Serbia and Montenegro. I argue that women politicians in both countries, despite being present to a greater extent descriptively, face considerable constraints to their political activism within institutions such as parliament, thus limiting the effects they can have in terms of substantive “output” or women-friendly legislation. I highlight several factors that complicate women’s political efficacy in the two countries, including a reemergence (and legacy) of authoritarianism, ideological proclivities of ruling parties, and endemic corruption. This work contributes to the regional literature on women’s political representation and situates two country case studies in a regional perspective.
Keywords: women in politics, descriptive representation, substantive representation, Serbia, Montenegro, gender quotas
Page Range: 81-110
Language: English
Substantive Representation of Women: The Case of Serbia
Summary / Abstract: Substantive representation of women has received much attention in the research on representation since the 1980s. However, that research was mainly focused on Latin America and Western Europe, while the Western Balkans remained understudied. This paper aims to contribute to the research on the substantive representation of women in Serbia by examining the substantive representation of women in the Serbian parliament in the five chosen convocations, aiming to explore which MPs (men or women) act in the interests of women and which interests are represented. To answer this question, the quantitative content analysis of the parliamentary debates in the Serbian parliament in the selected years is performed. The main findings from the research indicate that male MPs tend to advocate for the interests of women more than female MPs. However, women are more likely to speak on the topic when participating in the debates. Furthermore, it can be observed that the traditional interests of women dominate the discourse on the substantive representation of women, mainly revolving around the category of family and childcare.
Keywords: substantive representation, women’s interests, women’s representation, Serbia
Page Range: 111-144
Language: English
Women Activists and Women Parliamentarians as Actors of the Political Representation of Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina: What Claims, With What Successes?
Summary / Abstract: This article analyzes and discusses women’s political representation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), focusing on the role of women parliamentarians and activists as critical actors. The theoretical section outlines their role and key challenges in achieving substantive gender outcomes. The qualitative research and analysis examine the representative claims they have raised in BiH to broaden the political agenda to include women’s issues related to gender-based violence, equal political representation, women’s social rights, mainly related to motherhood, and the status of marginalized women, and gender just-peace. Successes have varied and are recognized primarily concerning domestic violence, but improvements are needed in this area as well. Overarching demands for gender equality in politics face various obstacles, especially given the complicated political system that favors ethnic representation and social repatriarchalization in post-conflict society. Despite some small successes, it is even more difficult to achieve substantial results when it comes to marginalized women such as Roma and LBT women in an unfavorable social and political context.
Keywords: political representation of women, Bosnia and Herzegovina, critical actors, women’s movement, women activists, women parliamentarians, gender-based violence, gender equality in politics, marginalized women
Page Range: 145-175
Language: English
STUDIES AND ARTICLES
“Pharisaic Stigma of the Scorned Cast”: Prostitution in the Works Marta by Eliza Orzeszkowa and “Torn Pages from a Girl’s Diary” by Milica Janković
Summary / Abstract: Through an analysis of the novel Marta by Polish author Eliza Orzeszkowa and the short story “Torn Pages from a Girl’s Diary” by Serbian author Milica Janković, this paper delves into the intricate relationship between patriarchal social structures and prostitution. While prostitution is not the central theme of these works, both pieces vividly depict deeply entrenched discriminatory gender dynamics and double standards, thereby shedding light on their role in shaping societal phenomena like prostitution. By examining the historical and legal context, it becomes evident that laws regulating prostitution are influenced by gender biases and insensitivity to the needs of women engaged in prostitution, thereby perpetuating their marginalization. A comprehensive review of relevant literature from the early 20th century and contemporary texts by Polish and Serbian authors offers valuable insights into the feminist discourse surrounding prostitution and its intersection with culture. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that prostitution is a multifaceted issue deeply rooted in economic, political, educational, and other gender-based inequalities. It becomes evident that a comprehensive deconstruction of the patriarchal system is necessary to instigate a profound transformation in the status of women engaged in prostitution.
Keywords: prostitution, Elisza Orzeszkowa, Milica Janković, feminism
Page Range: 179-223
Language: Serbian
Barbie, Popular Culture and Popular Feminism
Summary / Abstract: This paper discusses the feminism of the Barbie movie, which premiered this July, instantly sparking debates about its messages and their meanings. Following a short explanation of some modern forms of third-wave feminism, the focus has been shifted towards the movie itself, its plot, and the reactions it has engendered. On the one hand, this Greta Gerwig movie is lauded as a feminist movie that raises significant questions about the role of women in today’s society, while, on the other, it has been on the receiving end of criticism on account of the superficiality of feminism it advocates and the way it depicts men. The reputation of the doll itself additionally emphasizes the ambivalent status. Barbie is simultaneously an embodiment of women’s freedom to be whoever they want to be but also a means for imposing unrealistic beauty standards. Mixing everything mentioned above has produced a movie that has achieved cult status even before its premiere, generating a record-breaking profit, simultaneously raising questions regarding the definition of feminism and its necessity once again.
Keywords: feminism, popular feminism, celebrity feminism, popular culture, Barbie
Page Range: 225-248
Language: Serbian
PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL PAPERS
The Social Construct of Women’s Care in the Context of Helping Professions
Summary / Abstract: The study of the social construct of women’s care finds its origins in feminist discourse, activism, and theory. Women’s care is characterized by transgenerational reproduction, which implicitly influences the maintenance of the patriarchal social order. The most important characteristic of women’s care is the loss of part of the subject (woman) in the process of care directed towards the object of care (man). The paper points to the crucial position of the educational system in maintaining women’s care. Through the analysis of the gender structure and the number of students enrolled at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Novi Sad, women students, and future experts in pedagogy, psychology, and social work, we point out the gender structure of enrolled students. The results indicate that the number of women students who enrolled in undergraduate studies of pedagogy, psychology, and social work during the school years 2017/18–2021/22, i.e., future professions in which care is practiced and redefined, is over 90%, which indicates the perpetuation of the social construct of women’s care, which originates from the family and the household and is passed on to the users of services in different systems.
Keywords: women’s care, ethics of care, social construct of care, practicing women’s care, gender roles, helping professions
Page Range: 251-272
Language: Serbian
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