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Women and political representation

Women and political representation. From Rhetoric to Practice: Investigating the gaps between design and implementation in gender equality policies Giovanna Declich, ASDO June 3rd , 2007.

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Women and political representation

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  1. Women and political representation From Rhetoric to Practice: Investigating the gaps between design and implementation in gender equality policies Giovanna Declich, ASDO June 3rd, 2007

  2. The stake (1): Effectiveness and relevance of policies addressing the gender gap in the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All • WG 3/a “will investigate the ways the gap between design and implementation are created and aim at better understanding what policy mechanisms as well as theoretical assumptions should be integrated in the process in order to reduce the (gender) gap” • We know all too well that the issue of Equal Opportunities is multifaceted. It is thus necessary to face it by the adoption of diversified points of view and tools, both of a scientific and a political nature. Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  3. The stake (2): Effectiveness and relevance of policies addressing the gender gap in the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All • The Equal Opportunities concept (even though we are now specifically addressing gender) is a complex one, referring to a manifold reality (multiple identities, lack of common points of reference and shared goals) • That’s why it is difficult to assess women’s real situation and advancement (the media, above all, tend to oscillate between moments of unrestrained optimism and the darkest pessimism) • Politics play in any case a key role. That’s the reason behind ASDO’s research and project on women in politics. Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  4. Two risks to be avoided, in research as in policy design Confronting “the obvious that doesn’t change” (to cite a slogan that titled a beautiful book on women in politics, by Italian psycho-analyst Francesca Molfino), two specular risks have to be avoided: • Thinking we know it all • Starting from scratch each time, wasting decades of scientific literature and knowledge produced by women’s movements’ concrete action all over the world. Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  5. ASDO’s project on women in politics(ESF/Equal budget line) • Duration: 2 years and a half (now in second year) • Research: 1st year and throughout the project. Research tools • Statistical data collection • Review of previous studies • Observation on 2006 Italian political elections • Survey on political women experience and attitudes • Observation of experimental micro-projects • Experimentation: 6 micro-projects to tackle emerging problems • Public communication and networking activities (newsletter, seminars, public meetings etc.). Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  6. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects The notion of “diffused vertical segregation” Vertical segregation is a global phenomenon It affects every area of political, professional and social life It affects every level of power Research outputs - 1 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  7. Under-representation is a global problem: some examples(Lower/single houses) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  8. More examples: the paradox of G8 countries(Lower/single houses) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  9. More examples: European champions and poor performers...(Lower/single houses) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  10. But all countries are performing poorly at the local level(Women mayors) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  11. Segregation affects every area of life: examples Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  12. Segregation affects every level of power (ITALY) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  13. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects A taxonomy of factors affecting women’s success in politics (all crucial) Diffused vertical segregation Discordance in the exercise of political power Lack of mobilization Material constraints Normative and behavioral inertia Biographical tangles Ambiguity of public opinion Irresolution and lack of empowerment Research outputs - 2 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  14. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Questions we asked ourselves at this point: Why women are so few even in countries where cultural attitudes favor gender equality? Why do they face so many obstacles, leading to their virtual exclusion? A lack of socialization of gender in the public sphere? How do women react to this “social void?” Research outputs - 3 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  15. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Differences among women Two different sources (268 local-level political and trade union women activists; 94 national-level political and trade union women representatives) The weight of objective factors Women’s reactions and subjective attitudes The success-failure variable Research outputs - 4 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  16. The weight of obstacle factors Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  17. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Different types of reactions: Perceiving diversity Sociopoietic effort Personal life choices Preferred solutions Research outputs - 5 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  18. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Perceiving diversity: Feeling extraneous Critical approach Constructive approach Research outputs - 6 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  19. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Sociopoietic effort: Belief in the added value of women in politics Public negotiation Private negotiation Research outputs - 7 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  20. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Personal life choices: Political dynamism Care Other dimensions in life Research outputs – 8 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  21. Statistical data collection Review of previous studies Observation of 2006 Italian elections Survey on political women’s experience and attitudes Observation of experimental micro-projects Preferred solutions: Institutional approach Collective approach Individual approach Research outputs - 9 Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  22. Research outputs - 10 • Different attitudes produce different degrees of resistance by the political male-dominated environment. Most controversial attitudes have turned out being: • Feeling extraneous • Critical approach • Belief in women’s added value in politics • Public negotiation • Private negotiation • Other attitudes produce resistance when connected with one another (e.g. political dynamism and care) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  23. Some practical implications of research outputs • Potential for change implied by women’s presence in political institutions is diversified: impact does not automatically rise with increased numbers • However, most women’s actionshave the potential to challenge male-dominated institutions, albeit to different degrees • It is important to fight exclusionary factors, through legislative and policy interventions, but it is equally important doing so while fostering women’s attitudes conducive to change Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  24. Feeling extraneous Discordance Critical approach Lack of mobilization Belief in women’s added value Material Constraints Public negotiation Normative and behavioral inertia Private negotiation Biographical tangles Political dynamism Ambiguity of publicopinion Care Irresolution Constructive approach Diffused vertical segregation Objective factors Subjective attitudes

  25. To conclude… • Empowerment is crucial to strengthen attitudes more directly challenging the status quo and thus socializing gender difference in the political arena, both for women already in politics, and for those that are not and young girls, who could contribute a lot to change by bringing in their different approaches and experiences. • The project experimental activities move in this direction: linking different power levels, practices and generations to promote change. • The results of the experimentation and of the whole project will conduct to the final drafting of guidelines for fostering women political participation. Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

  26. Experimental activities underway The 6 micro-projects deal with (in brackets the promoters) • Women’s empowerment for political leadership in the Latium regional administration (ALEF, women association) • Negotiation for women’s leadership in largest chemical and textile Italian trade unions (FILTEA, national trade union) • Mentoring program for women in local branches of an Italian national-level party (MARGOWEB, local club of a political party) • Helping elected women in municipal administrations (Rome province) to link with their constituencies and effectively address women’s priorities, enhancing participation (ASPETTARE STANCA, women association) • Migrant women and reconciliation issues for enlarging participation to grassroots political movements and associations in Rome (DS VIII MUNICIPIO, local federation of a political party) • Promoting women in middle-level positions in a national-level Italian trade union (CISL, regional federation of a trade union) Women and political representation - ASDO, June 2007

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