Date post: | 02-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | wendy-porter |
View: | 217 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Lina Ellinas 1
Gender Equality and the New
Dimensions in Local Authorities
Hilton, Nicosia
June 1, 2007
Lina Ellinas 2
Research Identity Part of the EU project ‘Gender Equality
and the New Dimensions in Local Authorities’.
Co-funded by the European Commission, Employment and Social Affairs DG (80%) and the Ministry of Justice (NMWR) (20%).
Coordination: NMWR
Lina Ellinas 3
Research Identity Coverage: pancyprian, covering the large
municipalities Objective: to gain some insight regarding the
voters’ attitude towards gender and politics Form: telephone interviews, carried out by the
Intercollege Research Center in two phases. Phase 1: Oct. – Dec. 2006. Sample: 980 Phase 2: Jan. – Mar. 2007. Sample: 1096
Lina Ellinas 4
Research Identity Focus of Phase 1
The voters’ interest in politics and their political ideology
Influencing factors in their forming of an opinion on a party/ candidate
Their experience/ attitude toward female candidates
Lina Ellinas 5
Research Identity Focus of Phase 2
comparing the respondents’ intention (stated in phase 1) with their actual vote
seeing through the voters’ frame of reference how women’s involvement in politics could be enhanced.
Lina Ellinas 6
Election Results - Highlights 2 mayors in the 6 large municipalities are
women (33%), but in the total of 33 urban municipalities still 2 women mayors (6%)
Women’s representation on the ballots: 19.5%. Women elected 20.3%.
Lina Ellinas 7
Women’s representation is increasing, albeit at a slow rate.
Elections Women’s Representation
(%)
Increase (%)
1986 12.2
1991 14.1 +2.1
1996 17.2 +2.9
2001 18.6 +1.4
2006 20.3 +1.7
Lina Ellinas 8
Women’s representation by partyPolitical Party Women Elected (%)
AKEL 28.9
DYSI 17.7
DEKO 22.1
EDEK 8.1
EDP 66.7
GREEN PARTY 33.3
Lina Ellinas 9
Influencing factors in forming an opinion about the candidates
Hardly (%) Sometimes (%) Often (%)
Party decisions 72 21 7
Family 73 20 7
Participation in political activities
70 24 6
TV talk shows 59 32 9
Print media 59 31 10
candidates’ program
61 29 10
Candidates’ advertising
62 30 8
NMWR campaign 46 36 18
Lina Ellinas 10
Influencing Factors in Voters’ DecisionsHardly
important (%)Moderately
important (%)Very
important (%)
Gender 89 7 4
Age 61 30 9
Education 5 15 80
Experience 3 12 85
Honesty 1 7 92
Meritocracy 1 8 91
Competence 3 8 89
Personality 3 8 89
Lina Ellinas 11
Voters’ attitude towards women candidates
Yes
(%)
No
(%)
Did you vote for a woman in 2006?
72 28
If yes, would you do it again?
100 0
If not, would you do so in future?
90 10
Lina Ellinas 12
Voters’ attitude towards women candidates
If yes, why? Before the elections (%)
After the elections (%)
Worthy & competent candidate
74 56
Women are more delicate
31 24
There should be more women in politics
33 48
For personal reasons/ Other
12 24
Lina Ellinas 13
Voters’ attitude towards women candidatesIf not, why not? Before the elections
(%)After the elections
(%)
Men more experienced 1 7
Men have more time 1 5
Men more competent 1 4
No competent woman candidate
0 5
A woman belongs in the house
1 3
It hasn’t happened yet 61 46
Other 0 10
Lina Ellinas 14
Between two equal candidates, whom would you vote for?
Options Percentage (%)
(probably) the male candidate
20
It doesn’t matter 36
(probably) the female candidate
44
Lina Ellinas 15
Voters’ Suggested QuotaOptions Percentage (%)
20% - 80% 13
30% - 70% 20
40% - 60% 21
50% -50% 46
Lina Ellinas 16
Do you believe that parties promote men and women equally?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Yes No
Yes, 26% No, 74%
Lina Ellinas 17
Would you appreciate it if parties promoted men and women equally?
0102030405060708090
100
Yes Itdoesn'tmatter
Yes, 93% No, 1% It doesn’t matter
6%
Lina Ellinas 18
Strengthening women’s involvement in politics
A little (%) Moderately (%) A lot (%)
Advertising Campaigns
30 44 26
50% - 50% quota 28 41 31
Equal promotion 9 35 57
Recruiting European politicians
20 44 36
Lina Ellinas 19
Recommended Actions Parties should provide equal opportunities
to all their members regardless of gender. Women candidates should not be selected
shortly before the elections. The government should take steps toward
achieving a 30% representation of women.
Lina Ellinas 20
Recommended Actions The EU should monitor the progress made
by the member states/ parties towards achieving a 50% -50% balance.
Enhance campaigns for gender equality. EU funds to be utilized in assisting women
with their multiple roles. Youth councils
Lina Ellinas 21
Recommended Actions The role of the mass media. ‘Recruiting’ successful women politicians
from the EU.