10 Topics for exams - topic6.


                                     2.
                          Role of Women in Society
               The ongoing changes in social, political and economic
spheres of the country entails not only the raise of women’s role in
society, in addition they are accompanied by breaking of stereotypes to
treat human beings by sex that had been shaping through decades. Free
economic relations and democratization of all spheres of life create the
basis for eventual equal social rights for any human being regardless of
sex, for both men and women.
               From a legal point of view, a man and a woman in Russia are
equal. However, in practice, there are no real mechanisms of women’s rights
fulfillment as well as for their active participation in social life.
               Such questions as women  and  their  place  in  the  society,
their political and  social  activity  as  well  as  enlightening  of  those
problems in mass media; questions of creation of informational data-base  as
well  as  maternity  and  childhood  cannot   be   effectively   solved   by
governmental bodies, especially in the situation of economic crisis.
               That is why it is important today to assist the  creation  of
such mechanisms through the activation of women’s public organizations.  And
non-governmental charity organizations become a single  source  for  support
of such projects.
                Housework,  chores  and  raising  children   are   generally
considered to belong to a woman's domain. Despite the fact  that  birthrates
in the country have been  falling,  children  are  obstacles  in  the  labor
market. It is understandable that women  decide  to  defer  having  children
later or do not have children at all. Along with that, there is  a  lack  of
knowledge about modern contraception and a correspondingly large  number  of
abortions. The frequency of abortions in Russia is one  of  the  highest  in
the world.
               Women comprise 54 percent of  contemporary  Russian  society.
However, the number  of  women  taking  part  in  the  country's  political,
economic and civic life shows that women are restricted in  the  spheres  of
politics and government. Women's salaries are on average lower  than  men's,
and women are likewise far more  likely  to  fall  victim  to  violence  and
unemployment. According to  United  Nations  Gender  Organization  data,  67
percent of those unemployed in Russia are women.
                A lack of state financing  in  social  programs  has  caused
further tightening in the  labor  market,  particularly  for  women.  Female
unemployment is rising at a catastrophically  high  rate.  Women  have  less
access to retraining programs than men,  while  women  entrepreneurs  are  a
rarity.
                Women's social status  is  a  serious  problem.  Few  female
decision-makers can  be  found  in  positions  of  social  importance.  This
strengthens the stereotype of "male superiority" and  hinders  the  creation
of true partnerships between men and women.
                One of the most important reflections  of  equity  is  equal
rights in the labor market.  Analysis  of  existing  legislation  of  Russia
confirms its prohibition  on  gender  discrimination.  However,  legislation
itself creates only a certain  legal  environment,  certain  conditions  for
equality, but does not ensure their fulfillment.

                So,The main goals are protection of women’s rights and
elimination of discrimination in society; widening women’s participation in
policy decision-making processes on the local, regional and national
levels; support for cooperation between women’s organizations on the
national and international arenas; widening access  to international
resources and experience of women’s organizations on an international
level.

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