Some 42.4% of the respondents of a poll fully agree with the assertion that it is more the duty of men to earn money. The figure rises to 73.5% in the case of those who rather agree. Also, 23.9% of those surveyed consider it is more the duty of women to do housework, while 57% rather agree. The study was carried out by the Partnership for Development Center as part of the effort to determine the Gender Equality Index.
In a news conference at IPN, human rights expert Andrei Brighidin, of East Europe Foundation, said de opinions about the traditional gender roles remain rather marked even if the index for gender perceptions and stereotypes rose by 4 points. The intensity of perceptions differs depending on demographic characteristics. So, the young people aged between 18 and 29 have more pronounced perceptions about the traditional gender roles compared with the 34-44 and 45-59 age brackets.
“We can only speculate and say that the persons realize more the fact that the traditional roles have no importance in fulfilling one’s duties depending on the level of education. Thus, we have the answers of employed persons versus the answers of unemployed ones. When the persons start to work, they realize that it is the duty of both of the couple members to become involved in family life, raising of children, earning of money,” stated Andrei Brighidin. The severity of perceptions is also determined directly by the living standards. The lower the economic level is, the more severe the perceptions are.
The poll showed that a larger percentage of female responders consider that it is rather the duty of women to do housework. “This shows the necessity of continuing work to destroy these perceptions and patriarchal approaches in our society,” added the expert.
The Gender Equality Index is calculated based on 31 indicators on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 means full inequality between men and women, while 100 means perfect gender equality. Thus, the closer the index is to 100, the higher the gender equality level is.
In 2016, the Gender Equality Index rose from 57 to 58, mainly due to the improvement of the perceptions of the role of women in society. The score for gender perceptions and stereotypes rose by 4 points and determined the increase in the Gender Equality Index compared with a year before. The research authors concluded that the level of gender equality in Moldova actually improved owing to the people and less to the reforms initiated by the authorities.
Activist and women’s rights defender Alina Andronache called on the politicians to compete in making nice gestures throughout the year, not only on March 8, especially by adopting and implementing legislative changes that would ensure equal rights for women in all the spheres of the public life and private life.
This analytical note was possible owing to the assistance of the American people provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
