Tamara Martseniuk: «Stereotypes of the gender inequality limit both women and men»

On Thursday, December 17, 2015, Tamara Martseniuk held a public lecture on gender policy in Ukraine and challenges of the European integration. The event was initiated by GURT Resource Centre together with the Department of Sociology at the National University of «Kyiv-Mohyla Academy» within the project «Gender Policies and EU Integration: Experience of the Visegrad Four Eastern Partnership».

In total more than 40 participants, including scientists, analysts, human rights activists, social workers, professors, students and other socially active citizens interested in the subject of gender equality took part in the event.

«Gender themes in Ukraine has become more visible compared to previous years. This is due to the challenges of European integration and the need to ensure human rights. After Maidan women’s organizations has intensified their activities.  People are interested in EU policy, but not everyone knows that the European Union has its gender policy in the years to come», said the expert Tamara Martseniuk.

Analytics and External Relations Office at the International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) Olena Zaharova highlighted two issues discussed during the lecture: «The implementation of gender quotas is one of the most essential point to be considered in order to improve gender policy in Ukraine. Another question of significant relevance is about gender prioritization».

Analyst at the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine Iuliia Koba emphasized the importance of such events: «To my mind, many people do not even think about gender issue, while often perceiving it in a quite aggressive and stereotyped way. It is necessary to raise awareness of people about what is gender and gender equality mean. Such events in an open format should be conducted more often».

Tamara Martsenyuk – Ph.D. in Social Sciences, associate professor of the Department of Sociology at the National University of «Kyiv-Mohyla Academy» (NaUKMA), associated gender expert at the International Centre for Policy Studies (project «Increasing opportunities for women»). Among other disciplines in NaUKMA Tamara Martsenyuk holds a course «Gender and politics». In 2015 she conducted research on the gender policy of the EU and Ukraine, women engagement in politics and the implementation of gender quotas in Ukraine.

The event was held within the project «Gender Policies and EU Integration: Experience of the Visegrad Four Eastern Partnership», jointly implemented by the Fund of Women Entrepreneurs (Georgia) and the GURT Resource Centre (Ukraine) with the financial support of the International Visegrad Fund.