Gender issues as taboo topic in Montenegro, and why advocating for that is like a Star Wars. Education and equality as a requirement to join EU family and some statics on discrimination.

Montenegro is currently on its way to Europe. All roads that we are on right now lead to Brussels, if we close successfully all negotiation chapters. If you turn on the TV or the news, you can hear about some amazing process we are achieving in becoming a member of European family.

Yet, if you take a walk around ministries, or streets, sit in a cafee or something, all you will hear is people COMPLAIN. Low income, corruption, nepotism, environmental issues - chapter by chapter what we need to do.

Country duty in the process is to engage a lot of money and human resources in the process. But a lot of people, instead being educated to be quality human resources just sit around and wait for EU to come, raise salaries and fix everything. Sometimes I wish our ministries and institutions were cool like Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter. And then I say to myself – I am just a muggle.

Aside all 50 shades of grey things we have in the society, gender equality is the darkest shade. I wonder how that is constantly being skipped and avoided, and on the other hand – advocated in a completely wrong way. As everything in this country, government has a super plan how to implement gender equality through institutions. When you ask them , they are like “Oh, yeah – we are totally advocating and doing all measures to reach equality” Why then women are discriminated in every area in this society? Here are some facts.

1. There are no official education on gender and equality in any school segment, and Universities in Montenegro have no department or offer no classes on gender, power and politcs. (Let me remind you that gender studies are amongst prosperous social science areas).
2. Illiteracy in the country is higher with women – especially in rural areas. (#SmashThePatriarchy)
3. Women in sport, disregarding their success, are not equal with men.
4. Huge discrimination of women on labor market. (Laws on labor are not being properly applied)
5. Women are more unemployed than men.
6. During job interviews women face sexism, comments and judging on their looks, marital and family status, which is not a case for men.
7. Men hold more leading social position than men.
8. There is a lack of women in political life and women as political leaders.
9. Health system is sensitive to gender discrimination – (from general checking to aborting issues)
10. VIOLENCE on WOMEN. Taboo topic in the country. Violence in family, physical, mental, sexual, etc – we all know it exists, and we all ignore it. For example – 85% of people will report noise in the building from party, but less than 12% will report domestic and violence on women.
11. Women do not participate equally in decision making processes in the country with men

If you compare the data, you notice one thing – it gets worse as you go north. Just like in Game of Thrones, winter is coming in the field of gender equality – many girls don’t even get secondary education. Also, there are no proper institutions to inform women and men on their rights, on equality, no school education. Nor did any governmental institution did any successful reform in the system.

Its really cool, as my professor said. But people must fight this. Both women and men should be included in the process of integration, education and fight for gender equality, education and empowerment of the girls and women. Beyonce said it and I agree – girls do run the world. Women are capable of running a family and business and a country at the same time.

Ofc, it is a star wars situation with this – war against discrimination. And I don’t think EU will play Jedi knights or master Yoda in the story – its up to us to do it.

If not, guess we can join all the Stan company countries (Pakistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan..) and face the darkest of fifty shades of grey. I am not calling for women domination or radical feminism, but desperate times like this require desperate measures. We must fight, advocate and implement equality to some level. If we ever change political figures, we may hope for woman president… Or just for better living standard.

Let the equality fights begin. And may the odds be ever in your favor.