Women’s rights in the Eastern Partnership: gender stereotypes in work, education, and home

Women’s rights in the Eastern Partnership: gender stereotypes in work, education, and home

Olha Konsevych

Despite progress toward gender equality, stereotypes still shape everyday life in the Eastern Partnership countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Women’s rights activists have observed 25 November as a day against gender-based violence since 1981. As this date approaches, we decided to examine and debunk the most harmful misconceptions.

“The journey toward gender equality in the Eastern Partnership countries is complex, but progress is possible through continued education, advocacy, and by challenging deeply rooted stereotypes. By empowering individuals to rethink outdated norms and promoting equal opportunities for all — whether in the workplace, education, or at home — we can create a society where everyone’s potential is fulfilled.”

The ‘good mother’ stereotype

A 2022 Baseline Study on gender norms and stereotypes in the region shows that the ‘good mother’ stereotype still pressures women to prioritise household duties over career development, especially during their children’s early years.

The situation is exacerbated by the lack of paternity leave, flexible parental leave, and leave-sharing arrangements across the region. The stereotype of the man as the primary breadwinner also contributes to the idea that women belong in the home.

“Discriminatory practices in the workplace are reinforced by traditional company cultures, leadership values, and a general lack of acceptance for women in leadership roles,” says Guillem Fortuny, author of the 2024 Follow-up Assessment on gender norms and stereotypes in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries.

But targeted interventions are beginning to make a difference. Men involved in these efforts are more likely to support shared responsibilities for providing for the family, with 57 per cent compared to 39 per cent who did not participate. Similarly, young people exposed to these interventions are more inclined to believe in equal decision-making on day-to-day expenditures, with 84 per cent supporting this view, compared to 64 per cent among those not involved.

A lack of visible role models 

Beyond household and caregiving expectations, gender stereotypes also pervade education and professional fields. Women in male-dominated fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Ukraine report that stereotypes and societal expectations often limit their access to these careers. According to findings from the Follow-Up Assessment, a lack of visible role models and societal bias discourage girls from pursuing STEM careers.

“Many young women in Ukraine and across the region are steered away from STEM fields simply because society does not envision them in these roles,” says Anna Orekhova, Co-Founder and Partner at the InScience NGO. She added that this pressure could be strong enough to cause talented women to leave these fields early in their careers.

Building an environment that supports women in STEM requires structural changes. Anna Orekhova believes the solution lies in building an ecosystem that involves educational institutions, businesses, and civil society, therefore promoting gender equality in STEM across various sectors.

The survivors of violence often struggle to report 

“Up to 40 per cent of women in Georgia who have experienced violence have never reported it, sometimes not even to family or friends. They fear they won’t be believed, or worse, that they’ll be judged by society,” explains Irina Japharidze from UN Women Georgia.

This stigma, combined with societal pressure, frequently forces women to withdraw their complaints, even when they do come forward.

To tackle these deeply ingrained beliefs, Irina Japharidze emphasises the need for a “holistic approach”, addressing the issue on multiple levels. Policies and legislation must be gender-sensitive, and the institutions responsible for enforcing these laws – such as the justice system, healthcare providers, and social services – must be better equipped to support survivors.

The insurmountable barrier for women with disabilities

Women with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in accessing professional opportunities. Additionally, the lack of quality inclusive education, as well as physical, informational and communicational barriers in schools and universities further limits their opportunities, leaving many women without the qualifications needed for employment.

“Women with disabilities face stereotypes both as women and as individuals with disabilities. Society views them as caregivers while at the same time deeming them in need of care, creating an almost insurmountable barrier,” says Gayane Grigoryan, Project officer of the ‘Agate’ Rights Defence Centre for Women with Disabilities NGO.

Grigoryan explains that in Armenia, educational institutions often lack the necessary resources to accommodate students with different types of disabilities, and societal expectations further discourage them from pursuing higher education. 

The journey toward gender equality in the Eastern Partnership countries is complex, but progress is possible through continued education, advocacy, and by challenging deeply rooted stereotypes. By empowering individuals to rethink outdated norms and promoting equal opportunities for all — whether in the workplace, education, or at home — we can create a society where everyone’s potential is fulfilled.

This article was produced with the participation of CFI, the French media development agency, as part of the Yak Vdoma project, a hub in Bucharest for Ukrainian journalists, supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Olha Konsevych: Journalist, researcher | Vital Voices | GMF | WZB Berlin | Max Planck Society alumna || Mahabahu Correspondent

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