{"id":137630,"date":"2024-10-10T10:56:55","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T08:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/?p=137630"},"modified":"2024-10-10T10:57:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T08:57:34","slug":"femable-womens-political-participation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/en\/justice\/femable-womens-political-participation\/","title":{"rendered":"The personal is political: reflections on the past, present, and future of women’s political participation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How can inclusive participation and gender equality be promoted in political decision-making processes?<\/strong> FEM-ABLE<\/a> is an initiative aimed at fostering inclusive participation in political decision-making processes<\/strong> by supporting strategies at the national and European levels that promote gender equality. Through events, workshops and advocacy campaigns, FEM-ABLE aims to create an environment in which all people, regardless of gender, can actively contribute to political and social life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Wednesday, the third event of the project was held at the University of Palermo. The meeting began with the presentation of the National Gender Equality Strategy<\/a>, which was developed to address the main challenges related to political participation and representation in Italy.<\/strong> The identified priorities were explained during the event, along with concrete examples of actions, such as workshops to raise awareness among young people about gender issues, like the event itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe personal is political\": Giovanna Fiume's insights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historian and professor Giovanna Fiume<\/strong> then took the floor, sharing her early experiences in feminist activism and her involvement in feminist consciousness-raising groups<\/strong> in the 1960s and 1970s. These groups provided a safe space where women could discuss, reflect on their personal experiences, and recognise how patriarchal social and political structures shaped these. The goal was to become aware of their societal roles and power relations, linking individual experiences to the collective struggle for women's rights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the central phrases of her speech was \"The personal is political\"<\/strong>, a core feminist concept that highlights how seemingly private issues, such as relationships, sexuality, domestic work, and motherhood, are deeply influenced by political and social power dynamics. Fiume explained that, for women, these personal experiences are neither isolated nor apolitical but are closely connected to broader systems of oppression. <\/strong>Recognising this link represented a revolution in how politics was done, pushing women to turn their individual experiences into concrete political action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fiume also expressed her preference for grassroots activism<\/strong>, emphasising the role of collective movements and street protests, which she sees as the true engine of political change, rather than formal institutions. She concluded her talk by addressing current challenges, reflecting on the Global Gender Gap Report 2024,<\/a> which predicts that it will take another 134 years to achieve full gender equality worldwide. <\/strong>With a provocative and sarcastic tone, she asked: \"Who\u2019s going to wait 134 years for true equality?\"<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical overview: Key moments in Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We then took a brief moment to reflect on some key events that marked decisive turning points in Italian history. Among these was the feminist movement of the 1970s<\/strong>, which laid the groundwork for significant achievements, such as the 1978 Law 194<\/strong> on abortion. The first Pride in Rome in 1994<\/strong> was a crucial milestone for LGBTQIA+ rights, while the introduction of gender quotas<\/strong> with Law 165\/2004<\/strong> promoted greater female representation in political institutions. Finally, the \"Non Una di Meno\" movement, founded in 2016, <\/strong>continues to fight against gender violence and structural inequalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Liliana Barchiesi, Movimento Femminista, 1974\/1979<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A participatory debate on gender quotas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To conclude, we engaged the participants in an interactive debate on the motion \"Should mandatory gender quotas be introduced in all Italian political institutions?\"<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise provided a unique opportunity to explore the complexities of this crucial topic in the public debate,<\/strong> putting everyone to the test in a format that encouraged critical reflection. Participants were divided into 2 groups: one in favour and the other against the motion. The roles were assigned arbitrarily, forcing each participant to step into a position they might not fully agree with.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This exercise allowed participants to think strategically, articulate their arguments clearly, and follow structured rules, simulating a real parliamentary debate.<\/strong> The result was a debate rich in insights, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the challenges posed by the gender quota system. This experiment not only demonstrated the importance of the topic but also showed how crucial it is to continue discussing key issues like gender equality<\/strong> in institutions. And you, what do you think about gender quotas?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For further information visit\u00a0femable.eu\/<\/em><\/a>, follow us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FEM-ABLE \u2013 Promoting women\u2019s participation in the political domain<\/a> is a project funded by Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV), which aims to fostering the equal participation and representation of women and men in political decision making by developing and implementing national and European gender equality strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n