Women in politics: The case of Serbia

• Main Author: Bogdanović Marija
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociological Scientific Society of Serbia 2016-01-01
• Series: Sociologija
• Subjects: women; equal rights with men; activities in public institutions; obstacles to participate in politics; motivation to be active in politics
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0038-0318/2016/0038-03181601113B.pdf

After a short introduction, this paper deals with women’s activities and participation in social and especially political institutions nowadays, but in the country with deeply rooted idea about traditional role that women should play. Additionally, it takes into account their personal experiences and opinions, impressions about being members of parliament, their motivation, obstacles and their (women’s) contribution to politics (through decision making). The paper is based on the theoretical discussion about under what conditions women’s participation in political institutions can be influential, about ‘descriptive representation’, ‘substantive representation’ and the possibility of their contribution to the democratization of society. The elaboration is based on the research of public opinion polls of the representative sample of Serbian population, sociological study of female members of the Serbian parliament, as well as on the results of women’s university education and their scientific achievements.