Women in the patriarchal societies of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia face gender inequality, but also numerous forms of misogyny and sexism, which often culminates in violence, even murder.
Gender position dictates the position of women in Montenegro, and numerous forms of misogyny and sexism are not sufficiently recognized. The consequence of this is the normalization and relativization of various forms of gender inequality and violence, said the doctor of political sciences in an interview for "Vijesti" Jovana Davidović Vuletić.
According to her, gender discrimination is the basis for social inequality, and patriarchal systems are, therefore, suitable environments for the development of such ideologies, which prioritize repression, rather than equality between the sexes.
"If we start with the belief that someone is inadequate because of their gender or gender identity, we start a chain of discrimination. A particular danger is the increasingly frequent denial of gender inequality through the maintenance of patriarchal myths, such as that 'women are to blame for patriarchy', that 'feminism hurts men', that stories about gender equality are 'unnecessary and exaggerated'. We need to understand that patriarchy harms both men and women, but also to understand that it is a system that by definition favors male gender roles, which makes the consequences for women more far-reaching and dangerous," said Davidović Vuletić.
More lasting consequences
According to her, the short-term consequences refer to distrust in society, institutions, anxiety, withdrawal from participation in public life, while the long-term are gender-based violence, femicide (killing a woman because of her gender) and selective abortion.
He reminds that the social position of a woman in Montenegro is often connected with her gender and assumed social role and purpose.
"...And this is precisely visible in the data - what is the political participation of women compared to men, are there differences in earnings for the same jobs, who is more often exposed to sexism in the public sphere, who more often suffers domestic violence, who on average has a higher level of education, and is less represented in management positions. Therefore, there are numerous verifiable examples that confirm the thesis that women are more often exposed to gender discrimination. A special topic, which is often unfairly neglected, refers to the multiple discrimination of women who belong to vulnerable groups," said Davidović Vuletić.
She stressed that, in everyday communication, sexist speech is often treated as something "joking and harmless".
"With such an approach, we do not see the roots of these phenomena, their causes and consequences, but most often unconsciously strengthen them. It is important that we understand that gender equality is not an abstract topic that we need to iron out on the way to the European Union, but a value commitment that affects our personal decisions and quality of life. The causes and most important manifestations of gender inequality are found precisely in our daily experiences and in all ages, starting from childhood. By normalizing sexism, we make it impossible for women and men to live authentically, but instead push them into the rigid framework of patriarchy, in which any deviation from the 'desirable' is punished", said Davidović Vuletić.
Education is the key
She pointed out that we have gender inequality in different spheres, so it is difficult to single out a couple of fields that should be worked on. Montenegrin society, he claims, is currently experiencing a "return to the topics that were addressed by the second wave of feminism."
"Increasingly, we are witnessing right-wing policies that predominantly deal with issues of gender equality through motherhood, and popular measures that do not lead to a reduction of discrimination, but to its amplification. In Montenegro, we had such an effect with legal solutions that provide compensation for mothers with three or more children, as well as with popular measures to encourage the birth rate. The outcome of such policies is not equality in reproductive rights and the empowerment of women and men, but the return of women to private space".
The University of Montenegro (UCG) will soon launch a new master's program "Gender Studies", and its goal is to enable students to actively participate in the promotion of gender equality.
"The program will enable students to become familiar with the concept of gender equality, gender theories, gender stereotypes and the like, which should influence the development of critical thinking and the improvement of awareness in this area," the University's website states.
Davidović Vuletić emphasizes that education is one of the most important aspects of the fight for gender equality and "she is happy to launch that master's program".
"I think it's a good initiative and I agree that it should have been implemented earlier, especially considering the comparative practice, but it is important to see the importance of those studies in raising gender awareness among young people and citizens as a whole. In addition, we will get a new generation of experts in the field of gender equality who, with their knowledge, can significantly help in understanding the negative phenomena that are happening to us, as well as new research and data, which is important for the overall gender context in Montenegro," she said. she.
According to Davidović Vuletić, the situation will be better when gender-aware people work in institutions.
"It is important that there are individuals who understand gender equality in decision-making and decision-making positions, because this will consequently increase the chances of adopting gender-responsive policies. It is important for institutions to be proactive and to cooperate with non-governmental and international organizations, but not to expect them to take on most of the challenges we face in achieving gender equality," concludes Davidović Vuletić.
Pervasive hatred
According to available information, nine women have been killed in Serbia since the beginning of the year, and misogyny is an almost daily occurrence in society. Instead of concrete solutions for systemic problems, cover ones are being created, so it is pointed out loudly that there are as many as 10 women in the new convocation of the Government.
On the other hand, there are no sanctions for those who publicly sexually objectify women. On the contrary, instead of punishment, they get some of the most important positions in the state. That's right Bratislav Gasic, after a short disappearance from public space in 2016, and because of the sexist comment that "he loves these female journalists who kneel so easily", by the decision of the then prime minister Aleksandar Vučić, removed from the position of Minister of Defense. However, a little more than a year later, he became the head of the Security and Information Agency (BIA), then to the position of Minister of Police, and after the last elections, he was returned to the position of Minister of Defense. Apart from an apology and a short distance away, there were no other sanctions.
Judging by the reactions, the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality, which was adopted in 2021, is a bigger problem than misogyny and increasingly frequent murders of women for the citizens of Serbia, and its first days of application are expected at the beginning of June this year. Thus, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the patriarch Porphyry, as well as part of the faithful, believes that "the issue of gender-sensitive language, as defined in the law, is extreme violence". At the beginning of the year, he also assessed that it was "a real linguistic massacre, called 'genderization of the Serbian language'", and that it was an "unrecorded discrimination against the vast majority of citizens, our entire national community in Serbia".
Although the use of the words "fighter", "firefighter" or "guide" will not necessarily help prevent the increase in the rate of femicide and misogyny in society, as assessed by the most diverse experts in the field of linguistics, law, and non-governmental organizations that fight for women's rights, the patriarch and some believers, this problem has recently been the main, burning topic in the field of national defense, while violence against women is rarely reported.
One of the rare such announcements took place in January 2024, when Patriarch Porfirije stated that the Serbian Orthodox Church was determined to condemn violence.
"In the world of the so-called 'new normality', the public is informed every day that a husband has killed a wife or a boyfriend has killed a girl, that a parent, God forbid, has killed a child, and what's terrible is the other way around. Violence is also publicly called for, unfortunately, from unexpected positions, and even from our holy Church, from where only messages of peace should be echoed, and among the multitude of news that pops up on our smart devices, headlines about violence against women stand out in particular. beating, shaming, raping and killing our sisters, daughters, wives and mothers... For the Church, every human being is an icon of God, and the most worthy and respected of the entire human race is the Mother of God. What greater proof than this do we need to understand how immensely the Church respects every woman, sister and mother as a saint and an icon of God", he assessed, talking about violence against women.
Apart from these words, there have been no major efforts in the fight against violence against women and misogyny, even to this day.
And that misogyny does not end only when it comes to gender-sensitive language, but also extends to things that should not be the subject of debate, the comments on social networks that receive Milena Radulović and her colleagues who accused her of rape and illicit sexual acts, during the period when they attended classes at the acting school "A Matter of the Heart", directed by the director and owner of the school Miroslav Miku Aleksić. Radulović spoke about the case in January 2021, and the trial continues today. Almost after every main trial, various comments can be seen on the posts concerning this case, most often containing the content of how they "made it all up", asking "why did they wait so many years", and often also with comments that try to "point out" how everything that happened to them - they wanted.
A video of support for 15 girls who have been waiting for the verdict in the case against Aleksić for 1.236 days was recently published on social networks, where professors, singers, actors, athletes, influencers and many other influential figures read only some of the questions asked by Miroslav's lawyer during the trial. Aleksić set up girls. Although it is possible to see a lot of supportive comments and personal experiences shared by network users on the same topic, even in this case, misogyny was not left aside.
"That's all great, but now make a video about the theft in the elections at the republican level, the public prosecutors and judges who allowed it, the theft of babies and the abduction of children in maternity hospitals, the rituals in the Belgrade underground, the promotion of crime and immorality by your colleagues etc. Or they didn't allow you to talk about it", is one of the comments below the video of the mentioned campaign, which once again confirms that misogyny is ubiquitous in Serbia, and that society is still not ready to deal with the problem more seriously.
They hate a woman because she is a woman
A short skirt is a reason for rape, and going out late in the evening is a sign that she is "without morals". Behind the wheel of the car is someone who does not know how to drive and must be a woman. Her place is in the kitchen and with the children, but she is incapable of everything else. And she doesn't like cooking either, because the food is not tasty and her children are ill-mannered. If she is a director or owner, educated and/or building a career, then she is not a mother, a bad wife and an unprincipled daughter. She came to the position "over the bed". "Subject" is waving, gossiping and humiliation. She better not have an opinion and nod her head, otherwise she doesn't write well. If the abuser and psychopath raised his hand, ax, pulled a gun on her, or spat, "she must have deserved something". Challenging. He doesn't listen. A slap is welcome, as a corrective and educational method to "return a woman to her place". Because her place is known and must be behind a man - father, husband, brother, son, boss, neighbor, father-in-law, it doesn't even matter - what matters is that she is obedient. Her sexuality is a means of belittling, exploiting, blackmailing and attacking.
They hate her just because she's a woman. They live on her just because she is a woman. She was beaten just because she is a woman. She was killed just because she is a woman.
"Misogyny is a term that implies hatred, contempt, mistrust and deep-rooted prejudice against women. This phenomenon can be manifested in different ways, including everyday attitudes and behaviors, as well as systemic practices within society. Sociologist Michael Flood explains that misogyny functions as an ideology or belief system that is an integral part of patriarchal societies, which for thousands of years have placed women in a subordinate position with limited access to power and decision-making. Misogyny, according to Flood, is a systemic and transhistorical phenomenon, embedded in laws and social institutions," says the director of the "Dignitet" Association. Edisa Demić, professor of pedagogy and master of sociology.
He points out that misogyny is so present and naturalized that we do not recognize many of its aspects, but accept them as normal discourse.
"Sexist jokes about blondes, mothers-in-law or wives who constantly nag and spend their husbands' money, as well as narratives about femme fatales or 'easy' women, represent seemingly harmless expressions of patriarchal frustrations and male fantasies. The most extreme forms of misogyny include the murder of women for misogynistic motives, the so-called 'honour killings' which are often linked to cultural beliefs or customs, as well as killings motivated by gender roles and unequal power relations within the social context. These violent acts reflect deep-rooted prejudices against women and perpetuate their marginalization and discrimination in society," warns our interlocutor.
He emphasizes that misogyny is very present in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Traditional patriarchal attitudes and cultural norms often support gender inequality. Women face high levels of violence, discrimination in employment, deficient rights to health care and limited political participation. Institutional responses to gender-based violence are often insufficient, and laws that should protect women's rights are often not adequately enforced. The situation is not at an enviable level. Today, more than ever, women are fighting for practical equality and the protection of human dignity, while we witness the rise of femicide as the cruelest form of gender-based violence. Association Dignitet, in cooperation with Association JaBiHEU, is implementing the project 'Improving the legal and social matrix for the prevention of femicide and gender-based violence in BiH'. The research results show a worrying level associated with gender-based violence", he explains.
Law enforcement, awareness raising, politics and media
And eradicating misogyny from society requires a wide range of measures and changes. Education and raising awareness about gender equality, the interlocutor emphasizes, are key in changing people's attitudes and behavior. Legal reforms also play an important role.
"Strengthening the legal framework for the protection of women and the enforcement of those laws can significantly reduce discrimination. This includes the introduction of stricter penalties for gender-based violence and discrimination", he points out and adds that the economic empowerment of women is crucial for their independence and power in society.
Politics also plays an important role.
"Increasing the number of women in positions of power and decision-making ensures a better representation of their interests and rights. Introducing quotas for women in political bodies can be a useful tool for achieving that goal," says Demić.
He adds that the media has a key role in shaping public opinion, and civil society organizations in promoting gender equality and providing support to victims of violence and discrimination.
"Eradicating misogyny from society requires a comprehensive and systematic approach that includes all sectors of society. Changes must be profound and comprehensive in order to create an environment in which women have equal opportunities and the right to a dignified life", he concludes.
Bonus video:
