CONFERENCE KETHI – FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

FOR A GENDER BALANCE IN CENTERS

OF DECISION-MAKING

THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE POLITICAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN & THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA

Anna Karamanou

S.G. of the Political Association of Women

f. Member of the European Parliament, f. Chair of the Women’s Committee

of the European Parliament

INTRODUCTION

Equality between women and men is undoubtedly a fundamental principle of democracy and a core human value. However, it was only in the 20th century that women emerged from the marginalization and obscurity of millennia, stepping into the forefront of history and politics. The recognition of women’s individual and political rights, their mass participation in education and economic activities, the changes in gender roles and family structure, and the demand for equal participation of women and men in democratic institutions constitute the greatest peaceful social revolution in human history. The 20th century began with the demand for suffrage by the few educated women of that era and ended with the dynamic call for a fair distribution between the two genders of all responsibilities and obligations in public and private life.

The ^21stcentury is accompanied by the hope for renewal and the humanization of politics and society. Armed conflicts, violence, terrorism, the degradation and destruction of the natural environment, social exclusion, and poverty plaguing the planet are problems that demand urgent solutions. Recent UN reports provide a very bleak picture of the situation affecting two-thirds of the world’s population. The creation of a peaceful world, the transformation of the culture of violence into a culture of peace, solidarity, and cooperation, where all people, especially children, have the right to life, shelter, education, and healthcare, regardless of race, color, nationality, gender, or religion, is a vision that particularly inspires and mobilizes women. For the women of the world, as expressed in the decisions of the UN World Conference in Beijing in 1995, peace and sustainable development are not just an idea but a possibility that can guarantee a dignified life for all, including future generations. The massive entry of women into politics and the “balance of power” between genders is, in my opinion, the only hope for the renewal and humanization of politics and society.

THE COMMITMENT OF EUROPE

In the face of modern challenges, women demand equal participation in decision-making and the design of the future. The European Union and its member states have declared their commitment to achieving gender equality at both the European and national levels, across all sectors. However, since the founding of the Community, emphasis has been placed on the labor sector, for economic reasons and primarily competition. The full utilization of women’s productive potential is recognized by all as a necessary condition for the success of the Lisbon Strategy, aiming for the European economy to evolve into the most dynamic and competitive economy in the world by 2010. Indeed, in recent years, thanks to Community legislation, the position of women in the labor market has been significantly strengthened, even in sectors traditionally considered male-dominated. However, the greatest progress has been seen in the performance of women in education, as they now represent 55% of graduates in the European Union. In all European universities, women excel both in numbers and in performance. Therefore, equal representation of women and men in democratic institutions should be the natural outcome of the remarkable progress of women, as well as the democratic values promoted by the Union.

Unfortunately, such a situation is not self-evident. The gender equality policy promoted by the Union over the past fifty years does not function like an autopilot. Today, in Europe, despite the favorable legal status of women, there is a gap between formal equality and reality, as reflected in the low levels of political participation of women. At the same time, violence against women, human trafficking, increased unemployment, the incompatibility of professional and family life, the lack of childcare and elderly care infrastructure, are pressing problems that require solutions, as they are directly linked to both the violation of rights and the sustainability and competitiveness of the economy. Unfortunately, many EU member states, including Greece, although they have incorporated Community directives into their national legislation, show no willingness to promote accompanying measures that would contribute to the elimination of inequalities.

With the exception of the Northern European countries, the relatively recent recognition of women’s right to vote has not led to a significant increase in their representation in political power centers. The underrepresentation of women, beyond the traditional, historical association of politics with male power, is also closely linked to the nature of electoral systems and the strategies that political parties adopt toward women. It has been proven that more proportional and mixed electoral systems (as in many Northern European countries), with ballots without preferential voting, facilitate the election of female candidates. In any case, the role of political leadership is crucial, as with “positive action” measures, they can overcome the consequences of the historical exclusion of women from public life and enhance their participation in politics. In our country, the recent decision of PASOK to set a minimum participation rate of 40% for both genders in party organs is undoubtedly a measure that encourages and strengthens women’s participation in politics. Another significant step forward is the mandatory participation of women, at least one-third, in the candidate lists for Local Government.

Equality and Democracy in the EU

The underrepresentation of women in decision-making centers is not only due to institutional factors but also to causes linked to the quality of democracy, political culture, religion, and social expectations. In countries with well-established democratic and social systems, such as the Scandinavian ones, women’s right to vote was recognized in the early ^20thcentury, and today they have the highest rates of female representation in the world. In contrast, in countries with a long history of authoritarian or conservative regimes, the percentage of women in public office is very low.

Overall, in European institutions, there has been an improvement in the representation of women in recent years. Women’s participation in the European Parliament increased from 16% in the first elections of 1979 to 31% in the 1999 and 2004 elections. According to theoretical analyses by the European Network “Women in Decision-Making Centers,” gender equality is required for the following reasons, summarized in the well-known “five arguments“:

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY:

Democracy is based on the participation of all citizens in the processes of decision-making and shaping policies. Women constitute 51% of the population, work and are educated just like men, and are entitled to equivalent political representation.

APPLICATION IN PRACTICE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER EQUALITY AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT:

This right should translate into a fair distribution of responsibilities in both the private and public spheres, the abolition of the division of labor by gender, and the overcoming of the historical exclusion of women from political life.

ENRICHMENT OF POLITICS WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, INTERESTS, AND VALUE SYSTEMS:

The historical exclusion of women from public life resulted in women acquiring different experiences, interests, and value systems. In a democratic society, political decisions should reflect the interests and concerns of all citizens.

UTILIZATION OF VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCES:

Women make up half of the world’s human resource, skills, and talents. The poor presence of women in political decision-making centers means poverty and deprivation from the underutilization of human resources.

RENEWAL OF POLITICS AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES – NEW POLITICAL CULTURE

Women, primarily for cultural reasons, are carriers of different ideas, values, and behaviors that align more with social needs and can provide solutions to the new problems and challenges of the 21st century.

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN GREEK POLITICAL LIFE

In Greece, women’s participation in politics remains at exceptionally low levels and is disproportionate to the progress made in the fields of education (about 60% of university students are women), professional employment, and legislation. The political reality today reveals a serious democratic deficit, as the majority of the electorate is underrepresented in policy-making and decision-making centers, ranking Greece among the lowest in the 25 countries of the European Union – 13% in the Parliament (2004 elections), about 15% in municipal and regional councils, and negligible to nonexistent participation of women in the leadership of trade union organizations.

Greece in 2005 remains a patriarchal, male-dominated country, largely bound by undemocratic views and outdated social stereotypes regarding gender roles and political function. At the same time, the structures of political parties, the electoral system—which requires substantial financial resources and specific electoral qualifications (usually unattractive to women)—the harsh and often unfair competition, the unequal distribution of family responsibilities between the genders, and a number of other cultural and psychological factors hinder overcoming the historical exclusion of women from public life.

The “men are the city” of Thucydides unfortunately still remains, 2,500 years later, a fundamental axiom of the structure and functioning of our political system. As is well known, Athenian Democracy operated only for men. Aristotle’s theory of the two spheres—the public sphere belonging to men and the private sphere to women—deeply influenced, over the centuries, philosophical thought, political science and practice, as well as analyses of traditional issues and values such as liberty, equality, and justice.

The Role of the Political Women’s Association

The concern for the future of equality in Greece was expressed in 1993 with the promotion of interparty cooperation, aimed exclusively at the mass participation of Greek women in the country’s political life. The Association represents the institutionalization of fruitful cooperation among women from the entire political spectrum. In that initial phase, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also participated, but later withdrew, adhering to its broader strategy of non-cooperation with other parties. The Interparty Committee for Women’s Cooperation was established simultaneously with the creation of the “Women in Decision-Making Centers” network at the European level, under the auspices of the European Commission and as part of the European campaign to increase the number of women in the European Parliament during the 1994 elections. Prior to this, Greece had experienced a parliamentary period (1989-1994) with zero female representation in the Greek delegation to the European Parliament. For Greek women, it was thus a matter of honor to be represented as a gender in the 1994 European elections. Thanks to the very good cooperation of women from all political parties, the 0% representation rose to 20% (5 women out of a total of 25 seats), reaching 29% in the 2004 elections (7 women out of 24).

The Political Association of Women (PSG) was officially established in 1998, with a joint decision from the women’s departments of the PASOK, ND, SYN, DIKKI, and POLAN parties, securing support from leading female politicians, as well as the Center for Research on Equality Issues (KETHI) and the General Secretariat for Equality. Its common goal was to strengthen the participation of women in politics and achieve balanced gender representation in democratic institutions and decision-making centers. The elections for the Board of Directors took place on May 25, 1999, and the Association was highly active during the 1999 European elections, the 2000 national elections, and the 2002 municipal and regional elections. However, today, after a period of relative inactivity due to various circumstances, the revitalization and reactivation of the organization through the election of a new Board of Directors is considered a duty for all.

The Association leaves behind an important legacy, linked to actions that enhanced the confidence of women, solidarity, and their presence in the European Parliament, Local Government, the Greek Parliament, and more broadly in the political life of the country.

Sample Action of the PSW (and ideas for the future..)

***ELECTIONS 2000: PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELECTION OF WOMEN TO THE PARLIAMENT:

1. Printing and distribution of an election leaflet with the central slogan:

“IN THESE ELECTIONS, GIVE POWER AND VOICE TO WOMEN”

Distribution of the campaign leaflet by members of the Association and female candidates in downtown Athens (specially designed kiosks) – dialogue with voters and representatives of the media.
Distribution of the campaign leaflet by members of the PSE to ministries and public sector services, as well as various neighborhoods of Athens.
Distribution of the PSE campaign leaflet in the provinces by female candidates.

2. Creation and broadcast of a pre-election radio message, sponsored by the FLASH radio station.

THE RADIO MESSAGE:

Can you imagine a world with 94% men and 6% women?
And yet, it exists. The world of politics! The world of the Greek Parliament!!
In this election, this must change!!
In the April ^9thelections, I vote for renewal and fresh ideas!
I vote for sensitivity on issues of education, health, welfare, and social justice.
I vote for women!! I vote for women!!!
To enrich politics with new experiences, sensitivity, and imagination…
To utilize valuable human resources…
To renew the decision-making processes…
In this election, I give power and voice to women!!!

The message was a huge success and was broadcast in the last ten days before the national elections of 2000:
In various time slots of the Flash program.
From ERA on the national network.
From regional stations, following the initiative of the women candidates from the region.

3. Organization of press conferences: Journalists were given the opportunity to meet and speak with female candidates from all political parties.

The campaign of the Association was positive, as in the elections of April ^9, 2000, 31 women were elected to Parliament out of a total of 300 MPs, compared to 19 in the previous term (a 63.15% increase). Unfortunately, however, judicial decisions led to five elected women being excluded from Parliament.

***SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE CAMPAIGN OF THE WOMEN’S POLITICAL ASSOCIATION (P.S.G.)

As a result of the actions of the Association, the amount of 5,550,000 drachmas was raised for the needs of the campaign from the following sponsors.

Mrs. ELENI KOKKALI: 3,000,000 drachmas.
BANK OF GREECE: 1,000,000 drachmas.
EYDAP: 1,000,000 drachmas.
MINOAN LINES : 500.000 drachmas
DEKATHLON S.A. 50,000 drachmas.

***CONFERENCE OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE with the topic: “Consolidating Democracy, Stability, and Peace in the Balkans: The Decisive Role of Women”.

The Conference was co-organized by the Political Association of Women and the Democracy Institute of the Council of Europe, in Athens, from September 29 to October 1, 2000, with excellent participation and success. The Balkan women’s political cooperation continued in the following years.

***PETITIONS and MEMORANDA to the competent ministers for the implementation of national and Community legislation on gender equality in the competitions and recruitments for filling positions in the Fire Department, the Greek Police, the Army, and the Coast Guard. These interventions by the Association were later justified by decisions of the highest courts.

***PARTICIPATION OF THE ASSOCIATION IN JOINT ACTIONS WITH KETHI AND GGI (event for Afghan Sima Samar, seminar for female political candidates with Lesley Abdela, KETHI conferences, etc.)

The above elements provide a clear indication of the activities of the Women’s Political Association (P.S.G.) and demonstrate the effectiveness of the cooperation and solidarity among women, transcending party lines and divisions.

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA & WOMEN IN POLITICS-

Beijing +10

Speaking about enhancing women’s participation in politics, it would be a serious omission to exclude the media from the discussion. The significant developments in this area and their impact on shaping public opinion were seriously considered when drafting the United Nations’ action platform approved at the Beijing Conference in 1995. At this point, I would like to emphasize the significant contribution of the Greek Delegation in shaping the texts (the representatives Mrs. Angela Frantzesaki and Mrs. Kaiti Kostavara showed particular diligence and determination in all the meetings). The final text emphasizes that the rapidly growing media and mass communication industry is a “critical area of concern,” which must be urgently addressed if we wish to make serious progress on the issue of gender equality. Two areas were particularly highlighted:

a/ Improving women’s access to employment positions in the mass media and in the field of new technologies, particularly in positions of responsibility.

b/ Promoting a balanced and non-stereotypical image of women in the media.

The European Parliament, in a relevant resolution, has pointed out that “Community and national laws are insufficient to protect women from negative portrayals in the media.” Therefore, the Committee on Women’s Rights called for legislation to protect the dignity of women in the media and advertisements. As is known, the proposal by the then Commissioner, Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou, to extend gender equality beyond the workplace, triggered a storm of reactions from organized interests, mainly from the media, advertising, and insurance sectors, resulting in the European Commission backing down. Ultimately, the new EU legislation only covers equality in access to goods and services, leaving the issue of gender in the media for the future.

Gender and Television DEBATES

So far, there has been no systematic effort, either at the national or European level, to connect gender with the functioning and content of democracy and the media. Complaints about the underrepresentation of women politicians in television debates and political columns rarely fall on receptive ears. There is, of course, an explanation for this: since there is limited participation of women in politics, television simply reflects the reality and is not expected to function differently. Based on this explanation, we could consider that the increase in women’s participation in political life, through the implementation of equality legislation, will automatically signal an increase in their participation in television debates.

A French survey on the participation of male and female politicians in televised debates revealed a large gender gap, with the presence of men at 87.8% and the equivalent of women at 12.2%. Research shows that television reflects and reproduces the low participation of women in politics. The participation of women in television follows that of the increase in participation in political bodies.

The media tend to treat women politicians as objects rather than as political protagonists, which rarely happens with male politicians. In fact, women politicians have often protested that the media have treated them very harshly. Greater attention is given to the way the media present women. While in interviews with men, the emphasis is often placed on their political performance and experience, with women the focus is on their age, family status, clothing preferences, etc. At other times, the media equate a successful woman politician with a person who sheds feminine characteristics and adopts those that resemble more closely to those of men.

Women & Electoral Struggle

Regarding the coverage of the candidates’ electoral campaign, the media certainly influences the electability of women politicians. Different treatment by the media can affect the choices of the electorate, through the information they provide about the social status of the candidates, their evaluation, the presentation of their positions on various issues, and the projection of the candidate’s personality and dynamism. The press usually focuses on “hard” political issues, where women appear less dynamic, thus with fewer chances of success.

Research shows that during the electoral campaign, the political positions of women receive less coverage than those of men, and the media do not respond to the messages that women want to convey during their electoral campaign. The coverage provided by the press does not align with the electoral strategy of women, while the opposite happens with men. In general, journalists emphasize the issues and personality traits of male candidates more than those of female candidates.

The American media group “Women, Men, and the Media” stated that, according to a study conducted between 1994-1995, sources from women politicians were ignored by television correspondents, and newspaper headlines avoided mentioning a woman politician or showcasing photographs of her. This was characterized as “the symbolic disappearance of women.”

A similar study conducted by the Media Institute by Norris on the representation of women leaders (presidents and prime ministers) at the international level revealed that, based on the average coverage of daily reports, female leaders received significantly less media attention. For instance, despite the extensive coverage of Margaret Thatcher, the bland John Major received more coverage than his predecessor. Therefore, if women in high political positions struggle to achieve equal treatment compared to their male colleagues, one can only imagine how much more difficult it is for women trying to enter politics and climb the hierarchical ladder.

The Role of Information in a Modern Democracy of Equality

Democracy is a collective function that requires the existence of three conditions in order for decisions to be made democratically:

1/ Access to information for all.

2/ Dissemination and exchange of information in the public sphere.

3/ Decision-making based on common values and in relation to information.

If any of these conditions are absent, we cannot speak of democratic decision-making. In recent years, there have been alarming indications that the need for a common base of information and a shared space for discussion, open to all, is no longer a given.

In Greece, the media, particularly television, has become the dominant medium for political communication. In this context, the exclusion of women politicians creates a deficit in political pluralism and diversity of opinions.

Women politicians, who are often treated negatively even by the very mechanisms of their political parties, struggle to articulate a public discourse that has recipients, not due to their own weaknesses, but because of the misogynistic attitude of the media.

Thus, a public discourse develops that is androcentric, one-sided, lacking pluralism, diversity, and democratic legitimacy. This indifference or lack of education and sensitivity regarding the gender dimension in public life undoubtedly has a negative effect on the modernization of our society and exacerbates conservatism, as recorded in the research of EKKI, which revealed serious resistance trends in Greek society towards modernity and contemporary currents of thought. This very conservatism is documented and reflected with absolute fidelity in the media.

The reality of the media confirms the perception that women are on the margins of politics and are presented as exceptions, while male candidates represent the usual model of a candidate along with the entire set of values and ideas that accompany the male candidate. However, this also constitutes the great challenge to fight for an open and representative democracy, where male “ownership” of positions and offices will not be considered a standard model of exercising power.

It is certain that if the media provided women with a more favorable ground for expressing their views, the public discourse and political agenda would be enriched and upgraded. There would be greater awareness of social issues related to quality of life – environmental protection, social policy and welfare, healthcare, education, the fight against drug use and sexual exploitation. Furthermore, at an international level, there would be greater social solidarity among peoples and nations and a fairer distribution of prosperity and the planet’s resources.

ELECTIONS 2006 for Local Government

The issue of political culture that arises is the following: how can the media, in light of the local elections of 2006, promote a policy to combat discrimination against women and strengthen balanced participation of the genders in democratic life?

I would like to submit the following thoughts and proposals:

The media have a duty to stop functioning as continuers and promoters of traditional social and cultural perceptions and to operate more radically, as instruments for overturning outdated social stereotypes. People in the media at all levels, from the editor-in-chief to the reporter, must realize that the presentation, almost exclusively, of the positions of male politicians contributes to the perpetuation of a flawed democracy.

The media can contribute to public awareness and sensitization regarding the necessity of women’s participation in political life as an integral part of democracy.

The position of women in the media sector should be strengthened, both in production and in their management and operation.

Women politicians should learn how to convey their ideas and message or how to give personal interviews, press conferences, presentations, press releases, etc., because media usually prefer individuals with confidence, who can defend their ideas.

Political parties, and especially candidates for mayor and regional governor, should reform their communication policies to become more socially sensitive, to incorporate the gender dimension, and additionally to promote a comprehensive image of women.

The International Media Watch Observatory certifies that the ^21stcentury will be the century in which communication and information will finally belong to all citizens. I hope this assessment will also include women, and I wish the democracy of equality to be confirmed by developments. For Greece, the emergence of new municipal and regional councils will be an important test for measuring the social progress that has been made regarding women’s rights and gender equality. In the lead-up to the elections, the role of women’s NGOs will be significant, as always, and they must once again mobilize their forces and express their support and solidarity towards women candidates. Local Government and Greece urgently need the organizational skills, imagination, enthusiasm, and practicality of women.

Sources:

Anna Karamanou – Report of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality on the equal representation of men and women in decision-making centers, Plenary of the European Parliament 18.01.2001.
“Politics: Women’s insight” Inter-Parliamentary Union, Geneva 2000
Recommendation (84) 17 on “Equality between women and men in the media,” Council of Europe 1984.
“Women and the Media” European Women’s Lobby 2000
“Participation and access of women to the media and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement of women”, European Women’s Lobby 2003.
“Women Politicians in the media” Dr Carmen Lawrence
“Public Journalism and Public Life” Davis Merritt, Lawrence Publishers, London 1998
“Parties, Politics and Democracy in the New Southern Europe” edit.N.Diamandouros-Richard Gunther John Hopkins University Press 2001
“Women Professionals in the Media” Working Document, European Parliament February 2000.

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY:

APPLICATION IN PRACTICE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER EQUALITY AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT:

ENRICHMENT OF POLITICS WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, INTERESTS, AND VALUE SYSTEMS:

UTILIZATION OF VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCES:

Women make up half of the global source of human resources, skills, and talents. The poor presence of women in political decision-making centers means poverty and deprivation for the country due to the underutilization of the human resources it possesses.

RENEWAL OF POLITICS AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES – NEW POLITICAL CULTURE

Women, for primarily cultural reasons, are carriers of different ideas, values, and behaviors that are more harmonized with the social reality and political climate of the end of the 20th century.

Surely, we need a vision for the society of the ^21stcentury and a compass that will guide us there. We need a vision on three levels. First, at a personal level, then at a collective level, and finally, we need to look high above the clouds, beyond the horizon, at a global level, for the change of politics and society, so that the values of peace, freedom, solidarity, and social justice prevail across the entire Planet.