Abstract
This article examines women’s political empowerment in the Russian Arctic as an example of progress towards gender equality. In contrast to women’s severe underrepresentation in Russian federal politics, a strong trend towards women’s political empowerment can be observed in the Arctic regions of the country. Using the Nenets Autonomous Region as a case study, this article is aimed at narrowing the research gaps in women’s leadership by examining the representation of female deputies in both the regional and local levels of government/self-government. Research on women’s numerical representation indicates that women’s participation and political empowerment in decision-making processes are manifested most vividly in predominantly indigenous communities. Placing a special focus on these Arctic communities, this study describes the historical and institutional roots that impact shifts in traditional gender role and contribute to a phenomenon of indigenous women’s empowerment. Along with this positive pattern of women’s leadership, this study also reveals an alarming trend of “reverse gender disparity” concerning men’s severe underrepresentation in positions of power in indigenous communities of the North. The study results suggest that to achieve gender equality, a holistic approach to women’s empowerment requires taking into account socio-cultural and historical contexts, as well as regional and territorial disparities.
Highlights
Enabling women to effectively participate in modern society is one of the most important advances towards global sustainable development, encompassing equal representation in the labor market, educational institutions, and political office (UN General Assembly 2015)
Limited by analyzing female participation in Russian federal legislative institutions and female appointments in top federal ministerial positions only, this index does not indicate a trend towards larger female leadership and further incorporation into regional political affairs and local self-government institutions in the Arctic—a territory that is traditionally viewed as a “male domain”
This study reveals an alarming new trend of a “reverse gender disparity” and lowering levels of male social capital—both within Russian Arctic indigenous regions, such as the NAO, as well as in other circumpolar areas—that needs to be addressed in order to achieve SDG5
Summary
Enabling women to effectively participate in modern society is one of the most important advances towards global sustainable development, encompassing equal representation in the labor market, educational institutions, and political office (UN General Assembly 2015). According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2018, the average gender disparity gap in the political sphere is 77.1% worldwide. Limited by analyzing female participation in Russian federal legislative institutions and female appointments in top federal ministerial positions only, this index does not indicate a trend towards larger female leadership and further incorporation into regional political affairs and local self-government institutions in the Arctic—a territory that is traditionally viewed as a “male domain”. To narrow this knowledge gap on women’s political
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