Implementation Gender Mainstreaming in Estonia

1. Implementation Gender Mainstreaming in Estonia Anu Laas, Katri Lamesoo Unit of Gender Studies, UT Masarykova Kolej, Prague June 20, 2005

2. Introduction Context: Promotion of gender equality • Equality machinery • Implementation • Knowledge and awareness raising Survey data • Civil servants: knowledge, interest, attitude • Interviews: three groups (local leader, national elitist, executive) • Understanding of gender equality and GM in these three groups Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

3. Key words Rapidly changing society New terms, concepts Post-communist, post-socialist, post-Soviet, former state socialist, new democracy Old and new member states • Gender equality • Gender mainstreaming Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

4. Equality machinery • Laws, institution • Sex segregated data (will be a new regulation) • Gender studies in two universities (teaching on BA level, research) • Applied gender research (international projects) • NGOs (Estonian Women’s Roundtable is a member of the EWL since 2004) Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

5. Gender Equality Act • In force since May 2004 • Defines indirect and direct discrimination (also men with family obligation can apply if…) • Defines sexual harassment • Applies on for relations at work • Evidence should be presented by complainant • One case was discussed in the Labour Inspectorate • No one case has brought to court Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

6. Implementation • Maladministration (possible to complain to Chancellor of Justice) • Lack of regulations in connection with Gender Equality Act • Gender Equality Commissioner’s position opened in April 2005 (after one year of the act) Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

7. Gender Equality Commissioner • monitors compliance… • accepts applications… • provides opinions… • analyses the effect of… • makes proposals to the Gov… • advises and informs the Gov… • takes measures to promote gender equality Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

8. Government programmes • Funded from international agencies and organisations 1994-2003 • Twinning project (Saxon-Anhalt and Estonia) Development of Administrative Capacity of National Authorities in the Field of Gender Mainstreaming(2004-2005, Phare Twinning ProjectES/03/IB/S(O/02 • Survey, ToT, training of 300 civil servants Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

9. Survey data

10. Public opinion about gender equality in Estonia, in 2002, % Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

11. Survey on GM awareness in 2004,n=1012 civil servants, 28% men • civil servants have prejudices, quite stereotypical views • 75% argues that ‘there is something to do in the field of gender equality’ • 92% has never participated in ‘a gender equality course’ • 72% says that ‘gender is not an issue’ in their work • 60% says that ‘this topic is uninteresting for me’ • only 16% is ready to participate in a special ‘gender course’, the most of them expects a brief training ‘in a frame of other courses’ Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

12. Perception of words (positive) • Justice – 89% • Partnership - 81% • Equality – 72% • Equal rights – 71% • Equality between women and men – 51% • Female politician – 36% • Feminism – 5% • Quotas – 3% Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

13. Women in science Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

14. Members of Academy of Science, in 2002 Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

15. Typical local leader • Gender inequality is not a serious problem • Gender equality affects with sameness (women are not any more women and men are not men) • Gender equality policy results with loosing politeness (women are not any more let to enter the first etc) • GM is unknown • Status of legal framework poorly followed • To wait for a ‘natural’ and ‘spontaneous’ change Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

16. Typical national elitist • Gender equality policy requirement is imported (abroad, UN, EU, Nordic Countries) • Gender inequality is not a problem (in Estonia, not serious problem) • ‘I was never discriminated against’ • ‘/---/ but there was …’ (discrimination) • ‘If a person really wants to do career, it is not a problem’ • ‘I want to be a woman and I do not like effeminate men’ Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

17. GM mostly known as defined by the EU GM term is not the best in Estonian There is not good suggestion for better one A lot of things have been done It is important to be careful, and to be patient Not to displease opinion leaders, lobbying Typical executive Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

18. Attitudes about gender roles (Estonian Social Survey data 2004, n=1987) • Factor 1: Committed to family (15% out of all sample). There are no remarkable gender differences, among 15-24 old many supporters. • Factor 2: Conservatives - Children to women and men to work (14% out of all sample). Among supporters more men than women, people among 26-55, 65+ are very much against this model. • How old are decision-makers today? Conservative values and rigid render roles are supported Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

19. Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

20. Conclusion • Commitment needed • Tolerance needed • Value change needed • Shared values needed Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)

21. Unit of Gender Studies Faculty of Social Sciences Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences University of Tartu 78, Tiigi St., 50410 TARTU ESTONIA e-mail: anu.laas@ut.ee katri.lamesoo@ut.ee www.zone.ee/sociology/est Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)