WOMEN AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN BULGARIA

Daniela Bozhinova

Zelenite PartySept, 2013

Athletics Athletics

The World record in women’s high jump

has been held since 1987 by the Bulgarian

Stefka Kostadinova

Politics Politics

In Bulgarian politics women do not jump so high:

23% in parliament 25% local councilors

11% mayors

BULGARIA BULGARIA no affirmative measures like no affirmative measures like

gender quotas or other stimuligender quotas or other stimuli

all on

BULGARIABULGARIA – – Influential Women Influential Women Mayor Y.Fandakova/UNESCO head I. BokovaMayor Y.Fandakova/UNESCO head I. BokovaR.Vassileva CNN, K.Georgieva CommissionerR.Vassileva CNN, K.Georgieva Commissioner

BULGARIABULGARIA Highest ranking officialsHighest ranking officials

Prime minister Indjova, caretaker gov 1997Speaker of Parliament Tzacheva 2009-2013Vice-president M.PopovaBrazilian president Dilma Ruseff?

BGBG gender specificsgender specifics

Myth #1 - feminism is imposed from outside (was stigmatized)

Myth #2 – socialism achieved gender equality.

Myth #3 – labor has liberated Bulgarian women.

BGBG gender policiesgender policies

before the changes

state feminism (socialist doctrine)After 1989

state feminism continued due to EU legislation - europeanization

of gender policyFinancing only through EU funds, no

national funds allocated

Bulgarian women Bulgarian women

BG womenBG women

no grass roots movementNGO-ization of issuesFocus on charity, trafficking

Funds not available – “Insignificant” issues compared to Yugoslavia and other neighbors

Good news – court cases against sexist advertisers!!!Academic reasearch substitutes real activismWomen participating in power do not impact status of

women in BG

BG women movement? NGOs?BG women movement? NGOs?

BG women and party BG women and party politicspolitics

One instance of voluntary adherence to a quota – NDSV – 2001-2005 – 27% women in parliamentNo quotas – considered unfairNo incentives through public subsidiesParties stick to the approach of women fractions – opposite of gender mainstreaming approach