Sexist speech, implicitly in the electoral/campaign speech, has a negative impact on the democratic process and underlines the necessity of fighting such discriminatory manifestations. The Gender Equality Platform reminds of the importance of gender equality and urges all the female and male candidates to adopt a responsible and inclusive speech, respecting the diversity and promoting an electoral environment free from discrimination and gender stereotypes. Only this way, an electoral landscape in which each male and female citizen feels represented and respected can be built.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, gender expert Loreta Handrabura said that the male and female candidates this year were more prudent in parts as they obliged to put their signature when they filed applications to contend in elections, undertaking to obey the rules concerning speech and behavior. Not only the male and female candidates and the journalistic community, but also the female and male voters must know that the national legislation, the Criminal Code and the Civil Code punish hate speech.
Sexist speech represents strategies by which the male or female opponent seeks to destabilize the other by making intentional remarks, avoiding speech on solutions to particular problems. As a result of the monitoring, particular expressions that would treat the women or men in a particular way weren’t detected. But this wasn’t seen in debates. If the interviews or atmosphere at physical events had been monitored, another type of behavior would have been identified there. Both the male candidates and female candidates and the media institutions realized that mutually respectful treatment is necessary and this is a positive trend, stated Loreta Handrabura.
Nina Lozinschi, secretary general of the Gender Equality Platform, said that positive developments were witnessed in the fight against sexist speech and sexist behavior as a form of violence in elections. Nevertheless, the men are mainly those who adopt such behavior.
Nina Lozinschi invited all the players to adopt a correct behavior and to transmit a ‘clean’ message in the communication with someone.
Approximately 200 cases of sexist language in campaign speech were detected at this year’s general local elections. In 75% of the cases, the sexist language was generated by men, the Gender Equality Platform ascertained as a result of a monitoring effort.
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