GENDER EQUALITY: BETWEEN “NUMERICAL QUOTAS” AND “SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION”
Women’s participation in politics and public life is increasingly addressed in international strategic documents, as well as sociological and political studies that explore their presence and involvement in democratic life. Gender equality is now examined through a socio-cultural lens, focusing on cultural barriers to women’s representation and the link between democracy and gender equality.
A central question in studies on gender equality and democracy is why some societies achieve high levels of women’s political representation while others lag behind. Answers are often found in cultural and economic factors shaping social norms, political systems, and opportunities for women to enter public life.
Cultural theories suggest that traditional attitudes toward gender roles remain a primary barrier to women holding elected positions. At the same time, modernization and democratization processes bring important changes, gradually increasing gender equality and women’s representation in parliaments.
In the study Gender Equality and Democracy by Ronald Inglehart, Pippa Norris, and Christian Welzel, it is highlighted that modernization drives structural and cultural changes that directly affect gender equality. As industrialization, education, and income levels rise, societies tend to adopt more egalitarian norms and become more functional democracies.
Changes in gender norms are part of this broader cultural transformation. Historically, women were largely confined to family roles, but in recent decades they have gained access to education, careers, and politics, marking a social revolution.
The link between gender equality and democracy remains complex. The study emphasizes that gender equality is not merely the result of legal quotas or economic growth, but of cultural changes transforming societal perceptions of women’s roles in politics.
In fragile democracies, such as in the Western Balkans, gender equality faces complex transitional challenges. Comparative analyses reveal differences across the region, even though all countries confront similar barriers to women’s inclusion in decision-making.
Merita Limani, in her study Women’s Political Participation: A Comparative Study of Gender Quota Implementation in Six Western Balkan Countries, stresses that women’s political participation is essential for democracy and equal representation. Lack of women in politics undermines human rights and democratic functioning. For this reason, many Western Balkan countries have implemented legal gender quotas ranging from 30% to 40% to increase women’s political involvement. The study shows that quotas have significantly improved the numerical representation of women in parliaments and local councils.
However, numerical presence does not automatically translate into real decision-making power. Men continue to dominate key political and governmental positions. Across most countries in the region, women remain underrepresented in ministerial posts and party leadership.
The study notes that scholars recommend moving from “descriptive” (numerical) to “substantive representation,” where women exert real influence over public policy. Achieving full political equality requires building a culture of participation and supportive mechanisms.
The study concludes that “gender quotas have been an effective tool to increase women’s presence in Western Balkan politics, but not sufficient to achieve substantive equality.” Progress has been made under international pressure and EU integration processes, yet cultural barriers, patriarchal norms, and male dominance in leadership continue to limit women’s decision-making power.
In North Macedonia, particularly in the Pollog region, women’s participation in decision-making remains a persistent challenge. Despite legal frameworks guaranteeing gender quotas and equal representation, reality often shows underrepresentation, structural obstacles, and male-dominated political culture.
Women’s participation in local decision-making in Pollog is a structural and cultural challenge. Legal provisions exist, but practical involvement is partial and often symbolic. Achieving an inclusive democracy and legitimate local institutions requires prioritizing women’s representation. Only through gender equality can sustainable development and social justice be realized in the Pollog region.
Underrepresentation also undermines the legitimacy of local institutions and reduces citizens’ trust in the democratic process. A democracy without balanced gender representation is incomplete, as it fails to reflect community diversity.
This analysis was funded by the European Union under the project Voices of Equality, Democracy for All, implemented by the Balkan Institute for Regional Cooperation – BIRC Tetovo. This project is a subgrant under EU Support for the Civil Society Resource Center – Phase 2, funded by the European Union. The content of this analysis is the sole responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Civil Society Resource Center.