1. Daniela Bozhinova Sept, 2013
WOMEN AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN BULGARIA
ARE WE REALLY JUMPING HIGH?
Daniela Bozhinova
Zelenite Party
Sept, 2013

2. Athletics The World record in women’s high jump
has been held since 1987
by the Bulgarian
Stefka Kostadinova

3. women do not jump so high:
Politics
In Bulgarian politics
women do not jump so high:
23% in parliament
25% local councilors
11% mayors

4. BULGARIA no affirmative measures like gender quotas or other stimuli
all on

5. BULGARIA – Influential Women Mayor Y.Fandakova/UNESCO head I. Bokova R.Vassileva CNN, K.Georgieva Commissioner

6. BULGARIA Highest ranking officials
Prime minister Indjova, caretaker gov 1997
Speaker of Parliament Tzacheva
Vice-president M.Popova
Brazilian president Dilma Ruseff?

7. BG gender specifics
Myth #1 - feminism is imposed from outside (was stigmatized)
Myth #2 – socialism achieved gender equality.
Myth #3 – labor has liberated Bulgarian women.

8. BG gender policies state feminism (socialist doctrine)
before the changes
state feminism (socialist doctrine)
After 1989
state feminism continued
due to EU legislation - europeanization of gender policy
Financing only through EU funds, no national funds allocated

9. Bulgarian women

10. BG women

11. BG women movement? NGOs? no grass roots movement NGO-ization of issues
Focus 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 activism
Women participating in power do not impact status of women in BG

12. BG women and party politics
One instance of voluntary adherence to a quota – NDSV – – 27% women in parliament No quotas – considered unfair No incentives through public subsidies Parties stick to the approach of women fractions – opposite of gender mainstreaming approach