Rezarta Delibashzade Krasniqi
Whenever women's participation in the labor market and public life is discussed, the first thought focuses on the barriers they face. These include a lack of support to balance family and professional responsibilities, gender discrimination in the workplace and non-compliance with laws guaranteeing equal treatment for men and women, especially at the decision-making level.
Despite the slight improvement over the years, with the employment rate of women reaching 24,2% in 2023 (an increase of 2,2% compared to the previous one), the inactivity rate remains extremely high. Fully 75,8% of women are inactive in the labor market, a disturbing figure compared to 42,2% of men. These data reflect not only the economic and social challenges women face, but also the urgent need for comprehensive policies to address these inequalities and promote active participation in the labor market.
According to D4D's analysis, women in Kosovo mainly perform unpaid work and are often seen as primarily responsible for caring for children and the elderly. On a daily basis, they perform an average of 6-8 hours of household work, such as cleaning and food preparation, while 33.8% of women report that they spend 2-4 hours on these tasks, not including caring for children and the elderly as a separate category.
In addition to the mentality created by cultural and traditional norms on the roles of women and men in family responsibilities and ambitions for life, the lack of appropriate legislation and effective enforcement mechanisms significantly affects women in the labor market. The balance between "work and life" still remains a distant concept in the labor market in Kosovo, both for women and for men, while the inequality in this aspect is mostly reflected in the participation of women. The lack of adequate legislation means that childbirth and childcare become further obstacles to women's economic empowerment, sustainability and independence.
Gender disadvantages in the labor market continue to increase, reinforcing the gender divide and reflecting a disadvantageous position for women in relation to employment and economic benefits. This situation highlights the need for effective policies that address structural inequalities and promote women's inclusion in the formal economy. Also, newly employed women report a lack of support networks during their first entry into the labor market. This highlights the importance of creating initiatives and programs that promote mentoring and networking for women in the workplace. Organizations and employers have a key role to play in building a supportive and equitable environment where women feel empowered to succeed.
Policies and practices that address sexual harassment, discrimination, and that promote diversity and inclusion significantly impact women's experiences in the workplace. Creating a supportive culture is a necessary step in empowering and developing women in their careers. Beyond their unfavorable position in the field of economy, women in Kosovo face great obstacles in public representation and decision-making levels. This situation is not only a result of the structural and social barriers mentioned earlier, but also a consequence of the discriminatory and misogynistic language used against them in public and political spaces. For example, often in public debates or during election campaigns, women politicians face direct attacks on themselves, their appearance or their family roles, instead of being appreciated for the competences and ideas they bring.
From the monitoring of platforms and social networks (conducted by D4D) on the distribution of hate speech against women who are active in politics, it shows that women face online violence and harassment more often from men than from women (men write 89.6% of comments with hate speech, while women 10.4%), and adding to this that cases of gender disinformation in the media gather over 86 reactions to a news story - a figure three times higher than typical interaction for all news.
A concrete illustration of this is the low participation of women in key positions, where their representation at the parliamentary or governmental level is often limited to minimum quotas and not to equal provision of space. These limitations are exacerbated by traditional gender perceptions, which see women better suited to support roles than to leadership. This not only affects the lack of equality, but also deprives society of the important perspectives and contributions that women can offer in decision-making. To address this challenge, policies and initiatives are needed to foster a culture of respect and equality in public representation and combat misogynistic language at every level.
Therefore, women who have achieved their goals often feel a responsibility to support others in the same sector, based on past personal experiences and challenges. Therefore, it is essential to promote initiatives that empower women, creating a chain of support to empower others.
Women's empowerment should focus on creating a culture of support and solidarity, promoting women's successes as collective achievements. Mentoring and guiding young women entering the workforce, especially in male-dominated industries, is an essential step. By sharing experiences, knowledge and networks, women can help each other to progress and it is important to amplify the voices of women from all backgrounds, promoting their stories and achievements as an inspiration to others.
Advocacy for gender equality should include support for policies that ensure equal opportunities in education, employment and leadership positions, as well as improvements in the legal infrastructure for more family-friendly policies. Women's economic empowerment and the elimination of systemic barriers are essential for achieving their independence and sustainability. By leading by personal and professional example, women can inspire solidarity and become role models for future generations.
- The author is the executive director at D4D
– The article is supported within:
Projects More Choices through Family Friendly Policies implemented by the Riinvest Institute – Women's Economic Forum, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
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