Sexism is more than evident in all walks of life in Cypriot society and targetted initiatives on many levels are necessary in order to address this problem, Cypriot Ombudswoman Eliza Savvidou said speaking at a workshop on the matter, on Thursday in Nicosia.
In an address, read on her behalf by the Ministry`s Permanent Secretary Andreas Assiotis, Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Minister Zeta Emilianidou said that despite the fact that no-one questions on a theoretical level that men and women are absolutely equal members of society and of the active labour population, “it is unfortunately obvious that the distance between rhetoric and theory and the daily life of each one of us is still great.”
That is why, she added, in order to change entrenched attitudes and negative stereotypes, drastic interventions are necessary, since preconceptions and stereotypes have been internationally connected to one sex taking advantage of the other, with an unacceptable distribution of roles and power and political interests which perpetuate directly and indirectly superiority myths on the superiority of one sex.
Emilianidou also said that her ministry places particular emphasis on policies promoting the principle of gender equality and the enhancement of the participation of women in society, the recognition across the board in the labour market of their role and their presence in public life.
In her address Savvidou said that sexism is “neither random nor innocent.” It reflects the reality of the relationship between power and existing inequalities against women, she added.
Sexist speech, she noted, “which often we either let go off or we underestimate constitutes a particularly effective means of reproducing traditional patriarchal structures and the inequalities they imply.”
“Sexism abounds in Cypriot society and is present in all social classes and all our lives` manifestations,” the Ombudswoman pointed out.
At the same time the country`s life is full of declarations and legislative commitments to gender equality, gender stereotypes and patriarchal remnants which preserve sexism and gender violence continue to prevail, she added.
According to Savvidou, in order “to prevent and combat sexism it is necessary to take decisive and conscious initiatives on many levels.”
On her part head of the Gender Equality Committee Luisa Zannettou – Christodoulidou said that most people, whether they are being sexist or subjected to sexism, do not realise it or if they do they do not consider it a problem.
Referring to the media, she said they cultivate sexism whether in their entertainment shows, their adverts or daily shows.
Sociolinquistic studies, she pointed out, indicated that language is one of the most important factors through which social inequalities are reflected. “If we want to abolish sexism in society, we should stop using sexist phrases,” she concluded.