Slovak Spectator / The introduction of quotas for women to allow them to participate in public life more actively has low support among women themselves, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. The survey was conducted in all 27 EU member states over the past few weeks, and presentation of the results marked last week’s 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8. Read more
According to the survey, as many as 38 percent of Slovaks and 40 percent of Europeans believe that the world of politics is ruled by men who don’t sufficiently recognise women’s qualities and experience. Around 44 percent of Europeans (and the same percentage of Slovaks) support the idea of equal opportunities and oppose conventional stereotyping. However, only 19 percent of Europeans believe that quotas for women in public positions are necessary, the TASR newswire quoted the survey as having found. In Slovakia, the figure was even lower: only 16 percent said they believe quotas requiring that women be appointed to various administration bodies and supervisory boards should be adopted.
The survey also revealed that only 25 percent of Europeans and 28 percent of Slovaks support the idea of a equality-based representation on the election lists of political parties. When asked whether this should be required by law, 20 percent of Slovaks and 19 percent of EU citizens said yes. Eight EU countries have or have had such quotas for parliamentarians.
Source: TASR, http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/41960/10/eurobarometer_idea_of_gender_quotas_not_supported_by_women.html
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
