Naslov
Caring for Women: Socio-cultural Obstacles to Mainstreaming Gender in Croatia

Autori
Gvozdanović, Anja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, stručni

Skup
Inclusion and Exclusion in Contemporary European Societies 2006 Challenges of a New Europe: diversity, dilemmas and directions.

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 03.04.2006. - 07.04.2006

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
patriarchy; Croatia; European Union; gender mainstreaming; gender roles and stereotypes; gender inequality
(patrijarhat; Hrvatska; Evropska unija; rodno osviještena politika; rodne uloge i stereotipi; rodna nejednakost)

Sažetak
The main questions posed in this paper are: in what way is gender inequality present in Croatian society and what are the socio-cultural roots of this inequality. Women are the largest minority group in the society. They are not equal to men although they comprise over 50% of population. Illustrations of the discriminatory treatment of women in Croatia are seen in at least three cultural fields: education, media and domestic violence against women. The position of women in education and media and the fact that they are often victims of domestic violence is a reflection of the dominant patriarchal culture. In all three cases we find elements of binarity and asymmetrical power relations: nature and culture, private and public and very strict division of gender roles, perpetuated by the stereotypical images of femininity and masculinity. What is to be done? As an EU member candidate, Croatia will have to deal with gender issues more seriously and devotedly, primarily by implementing gender mainstreaming. Mainstreaming is based upon the recognition of gender differences between men and women. To be more precise, it “ implies equal valuation of different characteristics among and between women and men. Gender focused approaches do not merely seek to add women to a particular context ; they seek to change context itself.” (Bretherton, 2002.) What are the obstacles to achieving gender equality in Croatia? Dominant patriarchal and traditional values are supporting the existing position of women in the Croatian society. Tomic-Koludrovic and Kunac’ s book “ Risks of Modernization” offer 5 relevant factors perpetuating gender inequality: the cooperative system of hierarchical authority, the socialization in the socialist value system, the catholic system of values, influences of the war and triple burden.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA