Galina Mikhalyova, Chair of the Women (Gender) fraction
and Executive Secretary of the Political Committee of the
YABLOKO party, does not expect any positive developments in
the field of women's rights in connection with Vladimir Putins
return to presidency. However, she believes that someday a
woman will become President of Russia. She gave an exclusive
interview to the Russian Service of the Voice of America on
this, as well as on many other issues on March 8.
Viktor Vasilyev: Galina, what do you think of March 8?
Galina Mikhalyova: It's the Women's Rights Day, the day of
fighting against discrimination. Today we had a rally in Moscow.
Actually there is nothing to congratulate the women in the
present situation in Russia with. And we should not forget
the historical roots of this day, because all this was the
invention of the Soviet power. Instead of thinking about real
problems, people celebrated feasted and forgot about everything.
Viktor Vasilyev: Do you think it is mere hypocrisy, when
men once in a year sing praises to women?
Galina Mikhalyova: Certainly. We really have very serious
problems. We are lagging behind in all the aspects, we a re
lagging behind even from the African countries in terms of
womens rights. That is the level of discrimination of women
is very high in Russia.
Viktor Vasilyev: President Medvedev complained during his
meeting with women (on the eve of the Womens Day) that in
Russia there were very few women in politics. How can we explain
such a situation?
Galina Mikhalyova: The system functions in such a way. As
a rule there are no women in power in authoritarian regimes,
and in democracies there are many of them on the top. There
are special mechanisms encouraging such a promotion of women.
[President] Medvedev was not going to change anything here.
And speaking about Mr Putin, he does not even have it in his
thoughts. He's such a super-macho... When he was in power,
womens problems were not mentioned at all.
Viktor Vasilyev: So, you dont expect any positive changes
in the nearest future, do you?
Galina Mikhalyova: No, there are no positive changes, while
negative changes are obvious. There are few women in the State
Duma. There is no public institution that would deal with
our problems, for example, a Presidential Council or a council
under the Government or a Commissioner for Women's Rights,
as in other countries. Salaries [of Russian women] consitute
two-thirds [from those of men]. In several regions people
who have small children have to go on hunger strike so that
to get a place for their child in a kindergarten. Pregnant
women are not paid their benefits or get fired. But the state
argues that it has nothing to do with this disgrace.
Speaking about anticrisis centres, that are shelters for
beaten or raped women, then there are virtually no such centres
in Russia. The state does not allocate fund to the regional
budgets for their establishment. Mass media have been promoting
an image of a woman who is mainly a mother or a wife. Also
we do not have gender analysis of textbooks The state is
very close to the church, and the influence of the church
is tremendous. Let us take for example the recent arrest of
the Pussy Riot girls band (a feminist punk band - VV). Whatever
our attitude could be to [what they sang in the church criticising
the political system and the Patriarch of Russia], but it
is too cruel to imprison two mothers of small kids.
Viktor Vasilyev: Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin
asked [the authorities] to release them by March 8. Has this
happened?
Galina Mikhalyova: Not yet. Although even the Orthodox community
appealed to the Patriarch saying that [such a punishment]
was not Christian. Obviously they insulted the feelings of
believers, but why should they be imprisoned?
Viktor Vasilyev: Also women are on the second roles in the
Russian protest movement such as at rallies and deosntration,
arent they?
Galina Mikhalyova: No, there are many women there. But it
is difficult to access this in figures. But just for instance
the proportion is fifty-fifty, maybe even more. And there
were even some separate feminist columns at the [recent mass-scale]
rallies at Bolotnaya and Sakharova squares [in Moscow]. These
columns were not very large, and a lot of women went in other
columns. And at our meeting we had a slogan today "We
were at Bolotnaya square. And we will come again."
Viktor Vasilyev: Will a woman become President of Russia
some day?
Galina Mikhalyova: Certainly. I'm sure of it. I think in
10-12 years there will be such a chance. Simply because it
is a global trend. Although Russia is lagging behind the world's
progress, nevertheless, we will observe gradual changes.
See also:
The
original publication
Women's
Rights
Presidential
Elections 2012
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