Empowering Women in Active Society

ended

European data reveals important gender differences of youth in expressing political interest and knowledge. Young women issue a lack of influence over decision-making, policies, and understand politics as a male domain. Such issues may stem from under-representation of women in politics. In Slovenia, women are under-represented both in local and national political setting. EWA project aims to address issues of young women’s political engagement. The project’s main focus will be to alter the beliefs about women in political sphere and civic participation that are based on gender stereotypes, traditional norms and expectations and strive towards the empowerment of women, individually as well as systemically, creating better possibilities for their activation and mobilisation in politics and civic participation. The project’s first endeavour will thus be empowering the political engagement of young women who express lower political interest. Secondly, the project will assist young women in their active political role. Political interest, attitudes, and views of politics (i.e gender stereotypes), will be closely monitored throughout interventions (pre- and post-test), which will allow identifying factors associated with their political engagement and changes in their political interest. One of the core objectives of EWA will also be to conceptualize the strategy of gender mainstreaming in political decision-making and public administration policymaking. The project is based on multi-level and stakeholder-oriented approach, addressing selected target groups of young women through several different channels.