Misogyny, or prejudice and discrimination against women, is increasingly present in Montenegrin politics, often fueled by politicians themselves, and gains additional strength through various negative media narratives, sexist comments, and attacks in the online sphere.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", commenting on the increasingly frequent misogynistic attacks on the political scene.
The most recent example of misogynistic comments was experienced by the president of the Special Group of Representatives Jevrosima Pejović, after she proposed the introduction of menstrual leave.
Pejović told "Vijesti" that the comments that accompanied this initiative speak to the state of our society:
"Ignorance, primitivism and misogyny are literally killing our women, because shame and stigma prevent them from going to the gynecologist. The fact that 61 percent of women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2023 were in the late stages is the best indicator of where we are as a society."
Pejović stressed that she did not take any of the comments personally, but rather as a warning about how many elementary things "we all have to do together."
"I don't believe anyone who left a misogynistic or offensive comment intended to offend any woman with secondary dysmenorrhea, because there is no awareness of this group. It is up to us to talk about the consequences on the quality of life of all stigmatized diseases and educate our society. Laws are one way we do this."
Pejović emphasized that she was focused on working on the initiative and did not analyze the comments.
"I assume that some of those comments come from those who disagree with my other views, but I wouldn't generalize because the topic is more complex."
She pointed out that she had previously experienced colleagues apologizing to her for the content on their parties' bot accounts, and she thinks that this segment should be legally controlled.
"It is unacceptable for parties to use citizens' money to pay people to spread hatred in public spaces, and social media is a public space."
Vuković Kuč: It exists and it is permanent
Member of Parliament of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Aleksandra Vuković Kuč She was also the target of serious insults and misogynistic speech on social media. Among other things, photos of her from a session in late 2023 were "circulating" on social media, accompanied by inappropriate comments about her private life - her appearance and pregnancy.
"Misogyny in the form of underestimating women's qualities, humor at the expense of women, presenting and experiencing quotas as a noose around the neck where, for God's sake, a woman just because she is a woman takes the place of an 'exceptional' man, the absence of women from ministerial, parliamentary, and directorial positions to its extreme expressions, such as the increasingly common femicide in Montenegro, exists and is persistent," Vuković Kuč assessed.
She said that it is a devastating fact that if we gathered all the women who have been MPs since the introduction of multi-party politics until today, we would not reach the number of 81 MPs, which is how many there are in the Montenegrin Parliament:
"The underrepresentation of women in parliaments, both local and national, has been the rule for years. We have never reached the magical 30 percent in parliament. Imagine how far from equality the only acceptable balance of 50 percent women and 50 percent men is in the home of a representative democracy."
She points out that "we are facing the functional marginalization of women in politics", which implies a reduced number of women in representative positions and in the decision-making process, as well as a hierarchical one, where the "iron law in politics" prevails, i.e. the rule that where power grows, the number of women decreases.
"The position of women, therefore, is not what it should be, neither in politics nor outside it. Sometimes it seems that the fight for gender equality and human rights is a Sisyphean task, but we must not give up."
Marinović: Politicians themselves often feed it
Program assistant at the Center for Civic Education (CGO) Maja Marinović said that women are essentially undesirable in the political spectrum of Montenegro.
"And this is shown to them at every level - from the party level to the level related to their participation in positions from which they can make decisions within the institutional system."
She pointed out that incidents are examples of when their involvement is on a qualitative basis and when they are given space to truly express themselves:
"This is compounded by growing misogyny, which is often fueled by politicians themselves, and then gains additional strength through various negative media narratives, sexist comments, and attacks in the online sphere."
She recalls that CCE's 2022 research indicates that citizens recognize the high exposure to public attacks and hate speech of women engaged in public affairs, whether they are in parties, institutions or NGOs, and that this is more common than in the case of their male colleagues (65 percent).
"This type of attack is expressed on portals and social networks Facebook and X, where women are often the target of offensive and vulgar comments that demotivate their public engagement."
She pointed out that "we constantly have women targeted," and in many cases there is no time to react, because the daily dynamics of events that require a reaction are increasingly difficult to follow.
Jevrosima Pejović said that "in politics, women have no credibility until proven otherwise, and men have it until proven otherwise."
"And of course, that makes us women more vulnerable. Additionally, unlike the vast majority of my fellow politicians, I don't have a party, just my first and last name. Of course, when you can't 'hide' behind a party statement, which others often do, you'll find yourself more easily criticized for your entire identity."
She pointed out that this is the kind of job she has and that she was prepared for some people to see something in her that she wasn't.
"On the other hand, this job is a great privilege, which allows you to fight for your values and change the world according to your vision. And if I have to choose between the dignified life of women who go to the emergency room every month to receive an injection before work due to painful menstruation and being liked by everyone and keeping quiet - I have no dilemma about what I will choose and what my job is."
Pejović pointed out that she entered politics as a mature person and that she had two careers behind her and had already experienced that she could live very comfortably from her knowledge.
"When you know who you are and why you are in politics, it is difficult for such comments to shake you. I also know that no one has cried because of my political activities, I walk down the street, go to the market, to the butcher, ride the bus just like before and I have never experienced anything unpleasant, quite the opposite. If the comments usually left by people who do not want their names to be seen would influence me to give up on what I believe in, I probably should not be involved in politics."
She pointed out that she did not have time to deal with this content:
"Unfortunately, I have significantly fewer resources than my colleagues whose parties receive 5.000 euros per month per mandate, and I am forced to choose whether to pay for someone to prosecute insults and threats or to create an amendment. And of course I choose the latter because I want something good to be left behind for the society in which I live."
She emphasized that she does not believe that the possible lack of support is caused by misogynistic attitudes, but rather by her colleagues seeing her as someone who does not need help and protection.
"I will remind you that I am the only female head of the parliamentary caucus, that I am in 'male' committees both in our parliament and in international bodies... and it is difficult for someone who has broken the 'glass ceiling', and women in politics have done that, to be perceived as a victim."
Aleksandra Vuković Kuč said that, regardless of the persecution and lynching she experienced in the political milieu, she never saw herself as a victim.
"I consider the people who led and are leading these hunts to be victims of the environment in which they were raised and powerless people who failed to properly develop their personalities. These people, whether they are women or men, are weaklings, whose spiritual and moral limitations have not allowed them to be free people."
He emphasizes that a free man is not a slave to stereotypes and prejudices and does not have a reservoir of hatred within him.
"These people are slaves to an ideology they have not understood and a politics they have not thought through. All in all, they are thoughtless beings who verbally and in other ways whip those who provoke them, especially if they are women, at the behest of their party leaders."
When asked how this experience shaped her as a politician, she said that it strengthened her belief that she should fight for all current and future women in politics, to make things easier for them.
"'A philosophizing snake', 'a hyena in a petticoat' - these are expressions that accompany all women who are aware of their being, ever since Mary Wollstonecraft and her idea that the way out for women is in education. That is why for centuries we have been deprived of this opportunity to educate ourselves and be powerful. And today I think that our way out and our winning strategy is intensive education. Before that, every banality retreats.
Gender stereotypes hidden in the patriarchal framework
Maja Marinović emphasized that we must continue to speak not only about the growth of misogyny towards female politicians, but also towards women as such in the public sphere.
"Politicians may be more often targeted, but they are not the only ones, because misogyny is also felt by women from civil society who publicly advocate for their principles and values."
She pointed out that one of the reasons for this, albeit partial, is the patriarchal framework in which our society still lives, which also has entrenched gender stereotypes that impose traditional roles on women and limit their presence in public life.
"Thus, the CCE survey from October 2022 warns that citizens believe that women are up to high positions (73 percent), however, that they are still influenced by strong patriarchal patterns is also indicated by the finding that almost a third (32,3 percent) still cite men as better politicians, although they do not provide any arguments for this."
Marinović pointed out that the wave of retraditionalization and the strengthening of conservative approaches contribute to a negative narrative towards women who occupy leadership positions or who question the governance of these conservative positions.
"Third, political parties do not show a real willingness to include women equally, but rather formally adhere to quotas without substantively opening up space for women in politics. Finally, inadequate sanctioning of misogynistic attacks in the public sphere, including attacks on female politicians, allows for the normalization of this problem."
Institutions did not react adequately
Vuković Kuč said that institutions did not respond adequately to what happened to her.
"Institutions are anemic and dehumanized. There were some reactions, but everything ended with verbal condemnation. And that in a flash, at the moment, without continuity and systemic action. The situation in the judiciary is caricatured, to the point that you have no desire to participate in the processes, because you will go from the position of the injured party to the status of the persecuted, publicly lynched, etc. Even when the media adds their hands, there are no limits to the manifestation of dishonor and obstruction of any struggle for women's, i.e. human rights."
Vuković Kuč emphasizes that everything must be improved - from the law to the role of the prosecution to court processes.
"Since we had a high level of political culture, we decided to abolish verbal offenses, so we went from freedom of speech to the freedom to kill anyone who is our political rival. I am not in favor of bringing back verbal offenses, because of all the abuses, but I am in favor of clearly defining them in the law to punish bestial sexism."
When asked if her story had sparked any change in the perception of women in politics, she said she thought it had, judging by the women who are interested in politics in her party:
"Very young women have a desire to get involved in politics. I didn't want to when I was that young, even though I've had my own ideological value system since elementary school, which is still the same today. This is a clear indication that politics is a challenge for them, not a terrible environment in which women are mistreated and discriminated against."
Vuković Kuč said that politics is presented here as a call for privileges and good salaries, which is not the case:
"Those who see politics as a struggle for the common good and exclusively public interest cannot get rich in it. They can get rich through experience and acquaintances, but not materially. A young, educated and professional person can earn more in any other profession. If the motive for engaging in politics is to change society for the better, I understand young people who strive for it."
Maja Marinović assessed that patriarchal patterns in Montenegrin society shape the perception of women as less capable of leadership positions, and when they show determination or combativeness, they are easily labeled as “aggressive”, which indicates double standards. “In addition, women who dare to take public office or expose their work to the public are often faced with attacks that are not related to their work, but to their appearance, private life or assessment of moral norms, which further discourages women from active political engagement.”
Marinović said that improving media literacy and education can be one of the important aspects in eliminating gender stereotypes and ensuring gender equality, and thus in creating a society that is responsible and tolerant towards others.
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