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Tuesday, 08.03.2011
International Women's Day: Russian women remain disadvantaged
Moscow. This Monday Russia celebrates the International Women's day. Flowers and festive speeches do not hide the fact that women in Russia still have not the same rights as men.
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There is no gender equality explains Ludmila Alekseeva, Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, during the 8th March celebrations. The women in our country are right in feeling legally disadvantaged.
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It is particularly noticeable in politics and the business world she says in an interview with interfax. In government, the Duma and among governors you can only find a handful of us. The same situation prevails in business where women are generally secretaries or are holding administrative jobs. This is blatantly discrimination.
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Men are improving
Employers prefer to employ women who have had children as they will not require maternity leave and shorter working hours. This in turn impacts negatively the demographic situation.
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However there is a positive trend. Relationships within the family towards women have improved. Men in young families are taking on some of the household duties. In Soviet times it was taken for granted that women would run the household by themselves.
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Regional disparities
Civil rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina points out that women's rights are not observed everywhere in the country. She names the Caucasus states and in particular Chechnya.
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In Chechnya polygamy and forced marriages, where women have no say, especially not 13 year old girls, is openly discussed, said Gannushkina. It is also a question of enforcement of federal law that should be respected everywhere in the country.
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Women often blame themselves for their plight
Gannushkina is of the opinion that women partly give up their right for equality themselves. Women often get dependent and give up their legal rights for a good life.
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Putin: there is still much to do
Civil rights activists find support with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In his congratulatory message on International Women's Day he openly addresses the current problems.
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Today is a bright and cheerful spring festival day but is starts with serious issues, is the beginning of the Putin's message on the governmental website. There is still so much to do – mother and child protection, equal access to jobs, equal pay and equal working conditions.
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But Putin, as the man he is, does not forget to mention and recognise the female virtues of women. “We will always appreciate what makes a woman to be woman, her softness, elegance and charm.”
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