Równe szanse czy bariery? Kobiety w parlamencie Polski i Macedonii
Equal Chances or Barriers? Women in the Parliaments of Poland and Macedonia

Summary/Abstract: I present an analysis of women's participation in the parliaments of Macedonia and Poland. Owing to a quota system introduced in the Macedonian election statute, the representation of women in that country,s parliament has greatly increased, and presently exceeds 30%. In Poland it was impossible to introduce such a system,so the representation of women in the Sejm for years has been about 20%. In Macedonia women hold more high-ranking parliamentary positions, and it can be observed that higher descriptive representation, to a certain extent, implies better substantive representation. In both countries, however, women MPs point to similar difficulties hampering their political representation. Attempts to marginalize women and place them outside decision-making circles, or in auxiliary roles with respect to male leaders, are often extremely sophisticated, and based on cultural stereotyping, which assigns to women mainly caregiving, negotiatory, supportive and interpersonal relationship-forming functions. Some of the interviewed women spoke about activity barriers and discrimination experiences even though during their political career they have held elevated positions i.e. of cabinet minister, party chairperson or deputy prime minister. Although thus promoted, they remain fully aware of the existence of these barriers as well as of the practice and mechanisms eliminating competent women from political life. Especially in Macedonia, they indicate the quota system as the best way of fostering equal chances for men and women engaged in politics.

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