4 myths about gender equality

 

Article by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou

11 March 2024

On 6 March, the European Parliament, in view of International Women’s Day, organised a debate on women’s participation in European elections. All the speakers, from all political groups, stressed the need for gender equality, praised the abilities of women, charitably engaged in sloganeering and expressed the wish that the position of women in the wider European family should be strengthened.

Similar raving statements were made in Cyprus by all political parties. However many things are hidden behind these eloquent words. Namely, talk about the organisation of “awareness campaigns” and engaging in communication games in favour of women are a far cry from the struggle for real gender equality. That is precisely why, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) index, the average gender equality rate in the EU is 67.9%, while Cyprus is just at 68.6%.

Myth 1: They goal is for equality at work!

Everyone talks about equality at work. But women continue to work in much higher percentages than men on part-time and informal contracts. It should be pointed out that the gap in pay for work of equal value in Cyprus is 10%. The EU average is 13%.

Why don’t the right-wing and conservative forces support the position of the Left and demand from employers that they ensure equal pay for work of equal value?

Why have they contented themselves with passing an EU directive according to which only big companies (with more than 250 employees) will have to submit data on the gap in pay annually and take measures only if this gap exceeds 5 %!

In fact, this will not happen now, but 3 years after the publication of the directive in the Official Journal of the EU. Until then, what are all you people who are shouting about equality at work doing?

Unfortunately, the so-called “concern goes as far as the interests and profits of business are not affected.

Myth 2: Their aim is to promote women in decision-making processes!

Women make up 52% of European citizens, but their representation in parliaments and on boards of directors is only 33%. Everyone is talking about the need to increase the presence of women in decision-making centres. But why, when the Left submits specific proposals to create a network of public, quality childcare and elderly care facilities to free women from their multiple roles, do they disagree?

Furthermore, why has the Cypriot Government been slow to take the necessary steps to comply with the provisions of the European directive on work-life balance?

Why did the European Commission have to start infringement proceedings against Cyprus?

Myth 3: Their aim is to eliminate violence against women!

1 in 3 women have suffered gender-based violence. Everyone talks about the need to combat violence, citing the Istanbul Convention.

But why, in Cyprus, do they not support AKEL’s proposal to strengthen the budget so that the provisions of the Convention can be effectively implemented and for an effective monitoring mechanism to be established?

On 17 September 2021, the plenary of the European Parliament called on the European Commission to include gender-based violence as a crime to be combated. Why then did the Conservative group, the far-right and many EPP MEP’s oppose it?

Myth 4: Their aim is to safeguard women’s rights!

They all talk about human rights. In June 2022 we succeeded in a report of the European Parliament to include a reference to the need to ensure the right of access to legal and safe abortion. Why did the conservative group, the far-right and several EPP MEP’s vote against?

What rights are they talking about when they do not recognise the right of women to decide about their bodies? Abortion, according to the WHO, is a human right…

Many myths are propagated…Because behind the catchy slogans, they hide a lot of things.

For the Left, gender equality is a basic condition for a human society without exploitation. And we will wage this struggle to the very end!