In/Visibility of Women in Serbian Politics

Political participation of women in post-socialist transitional countries has specific path because there are processes of transformation and globalization of society that simultaneously taking place. Women are leaving the official masculine political scene and participate in feminized non-governmental organizations and rapidly expanding civil sector. Women are often active in political parties during election campaigns, but when it comes to the nomination of candidates and sharing mandate, are not represented in adequate numbers. Political parties in Serbia, whether they are left and social democratic or right and liberal, even are traditionally organized, and does not pay enough attention to the interests and demands of the female population. In such circumstances, the opportunities for women to be nominated for political office and the possibility to progress in the hierarchy of the party organization are minimalized. Another important obstacle to women's participation is recongizable in institutions sexism, which ensures that policies reflect the needs of one sex, male, at the expense of women. Research results have confirmed the existence of discrimination concerning gender communication, gender incorrect language, improper conduct and contempt for women based on gender, both in the formal and non-formal practices, and on all meridians. According to research results fom investigation in serbian Parliament 2014-2016, women in politics have a problem with insufficient presence in the media and their percetion in public. Their invisibility in politics and a small number on executive positions, however, clearly reveals the impact of the "glass ceiling", as a form of vertical segregation and outspread of artificial, informal and unwritten rules that prevent women to enroll in the most responsible executive functions, achieving greater power in political life. The unbalanced representation of women in the various parliamentary committees, indicating patterns of gender segregation through selective participation in the various thematic areas.