IT’S NECESSARY TO CHANGE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF WOMEN’S ROLE
Interview conducted by Naira Poghossian
Yerkir/arm
March 10, 2006
A conference titled “The Role of Women in the Process of Creation
of Civil Society” will be held in Yerevan this week. The conference
is organized by ARF’ s Committee of Armenian Women. Marlene Haas
representing the Socialist International will also attend the
conference. We asked representative of the Committee of Armenian
Women Maria Titizian to comment on the issues to be discussed at the
conference and the role of women in Armenia.
Q: What is the purpose of the conference?
A: The conference will deal with the role and activities of women. We
view women’s participation in the process of creation of civil
society from three perspectives: women in public administration,
women in party politics and women in NGOs. Representatives of these
three sectors will present their reports at the conference. We are
sure our discussions will lead to efficient cooperation.
Q: Representative of Socialist International Marlene Haas will attend
the conference. How is ARF collaborating with this organization?
A: Marlene Haas will speak about the cooperation of political parties
and NGOs in the framework of protection of women’s rights. ARF has
been a full member of Socialist International since 1907. However,
the membership was suspended in 1950’s since this organization’s
requirement is that the member parties should be operating in the
country of their origin which was not the case with ARF. In 2003
ARF rejoined the Socialist International, before that it had an
observer’s status. As a member of the women’s organization of the
Socialist International I have participated in all meetings since
2002. In this period close cooperation has been established with the
women representatives of political parties in European countries. Such
cooperation is an excellent opportunity for exchange of experience. We
hope we will be able to invite several representatives of the Socialist
International to participate in a similar conference in Armenia next
year since such dialogue is very important in terms of finding new
ways of empowerment of women.
Q: Why do you think women play an important role in politics?
A: Experience shows that welfare oriented reforms prevail in countries
where women participate in public administration, decision making and
legislative processes. Moreover, in such countries political tensions
are mitigated easier. The laws in Armenia don’t discriminate against
women in any way. At the same time women don’t participate in high
level decision making in our country, there are no women ministers
and not very many women are in the parliament.
Women are more involved in mid-level decision making. And it’s not
only the men’s negative attitude towards women in politics that
shapes this situation: women themselves do not trust other women –
you can see this during parliamentary elections.
Q: How do you think political parties are handling this issue?
A: Of course the 25% quota for the number of women candidates is
ensured in party lists. But the problem is that women are usually
listed in the middle or the end of the lists while it is practically
impossible to get so many votes in the elections. You can see the same
situation within the political parties. I think it’s time to change
this approach, and change it not by words but by specific actions to
prove the important role women can play in politics.
Q: What can you say about public perception of women’s role?
A: Women have always played an important role in the history of
Armenia.
Women were worshiped as mothers, were respected and loved; they
always had a high social status. The situation changed several times
when Armenia lost its independent statehood and then went to another
extreme in the Soviet period when even illiterate women could become
deputies. Unfortunately, our society fails to accept the fact that
even if women get involved in politics they still can be caring mothers
and wives. Political posts do not diminish your womanhood. Believe me,
combining this two is much more pleasant. Meanwhile, in our society a
woman is perceived either as a mother or as some other creature. This
is a very wrong perception that should be eliminated. In our context
I think the obligatory quotas for parliamentary elections are very
important to ensure that men do not form the absolute majority in the
parliament and in the government. This will be part of our activities.
Q: What is the role of the media in empowering women?
A: Empowering women in the process of creation of civil society is
directly linked with the media. I am sure that if women’s issues are
adequately covered in the media the public perception will change
because empowerment of women does not depend on a country’s being
poor or rich, progressive or underdeveloped.