52%

[Arpa]

Ladies and.. why not .. gentlemen, start your engines.

52%?

Woman president?

NPR has a syndicated feature- Fifty One Percent. It is mainly all about women, by women and for women. The premise is that more than half of humanity is female, their loose assertion- 51%.

And now we read the following below from ArmeniNow.

Once again, just as above NPR, is that 52% an arbitrary number or just an assertion that the population of Armenia is more than half female?

NPR has a syndicated feature- Fifty One Percent. It is mainly all about women, by women and for women. The premise is that more than half of humanity is female, their loose estimate- 51%.

And now we read the following below from ArmeniNow.

Once again, just as above NPR, is that 52% an arbitrary number or just an assertion that the population of Armenia is more than half female?

Woman President?

Տիկին Նախագահ? Tikin Nakhagah?

=====

"It is estimated that about 52 % are women" .

=============

Issue #45 (215), December 01, 2006

(December 01, 2006)

Decision 2007: Survey says population warming to idea of women in politics

By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow reporter

Editor’s note: On December 8, ArmeniaNow will produce a special edition related to issues of women and politics in Armenia. Return here for “Listening to the Quieted Voice”.

A recent sociological survey says 60 per cent of Armenian men and 83 percent of women are in favor of having women in politics. The percentages have tripled since a similar report five years ago.

The “Political Participation in Transition Society: Measuring Gender Equality” survey, jointly organized by the Association of Women with University Education and the Center for Democracy and Peace, tried to determine whether Armenian society is ready for women politicians, and whether Armenian women and politics are compatible.

{ai187701.jpg|left}The survey interviewed 500 men and 500 women across Yerevan, Vanadzor, Gyumri and a number of small towns of Armenia.

“This is an extremely important survey,” says head the UN Department for Public Information in Yerevan Valeri Tkachuk. “Women can have a serious contribution to politics, they are quite capable a force that sees the existing problems from a different angle. These qualities are quite necessary for politics.”

An expert within the research project and also a holder of a doctorate degree in history Yelena Vardanyan says they first needed to identify the level of women’s interests toward political issues.

According to the survey 25.2 percent of women are strongly interested in political issues; 61 percent are generally interested in politics and only 2 percents of them are totally uninterested. For comparison, the figures for men are 41, 57.6 and 1.4 percent correspondingly.

While 82 percent of interviewees said the concern over a lack of women in politics is a recent phenomena, impressions break down according to gender.

Only 29 percent of men believe the problem is very important against 54.8 percent of women. About half the men (50.4 percent) say the problem is “generally important”.

Sixty percent see gender inequality most vividly in elective bodies – a perception that matches reality, as in 15 years of independence women have held only three ministerial posts, four deputy ministerial posts out of 62 in Armenia, and there are no female mayors in all 47 towns.

So, what hinders women from entering politics?

According to the survey, 30.3 percent (both men and women) think the problems lie in the traditional mentality of society; 23.5 percent say it is due to social hardship, while 24.8 percent say women’s entrance into politics is hindered by the strict distribution of social and family roles between men and women.

Would the interviewee vote for a woman? The answer was mostly positive.

Sixty four percent of women and 43 percent of men say they would give their votes to a woman candidate for presidency.

The numbers drop when men are asked if they would like to see their wives, daughters, mothers or girl friends running for presidency or a parliamentary seat. Only 34 percent of the interviewed would prefer seeing a female relative as a president, 63 per cents – as member of the parliament and 66 per cents in the bodies of local administration.

Perhaps surprisingly, the number of the respondents willing to see their wives and sisters in high position is lower in Yerevan than in Gyumri and Vanadzor.

“This indicates that the reason for not wanting to see women relatives on positions is not purely a matter of mentality as the traditional stereotypes in Gyumri, Vanadzor and other small towns are stronger. It is because unlike the regions there are numerous spheres of self-realization in Yerevan. So one should not observe the problem only in the light of mentality,” says philosopher Siranush Khachkalyan.

The interviewed have underlined women participation is not an end in itself for them; still they say they cherish some hopes with making the political situation healthier in the country in case of women’s participation. For instance, 42 percent believe women’s involvement in politics will result in humanization of the core social issues.

It is estimated that about 52 percent of Armenia’s resident population is female.

“. . . So we can’t provide sustainability in the processes without their participation,” says chairwoman of the Association of Women with University Education Jemma Hasratyan.

Edited December 2, 2006 by Arpa

[SanVal]

The fact that only 83% of the women are in favor of women in politics is the biggest problem. Until that figure nears 100%, there's no chance of equality.

[Yervant1]

Maral for president.

[Arpa]

A recent sociological survey says 60 per cent of Armenian men and 83 percent of women are in favor of having women in politics. The percentages have tripled since a similar report five years ago.

Is Armenia fast becoming a matriarchal society, as opposed to the traditional patriarchal, spousal abuse and domestic violence one?

Perhaps surprisingly, the number of the respondents willing to see their wives and sisters in high position is lower in Yerevan than in Gyumri and Vanadzor.

What is the significance of this?

That smaller towns are more emancipated, or are they disappointed by the male dominated atmosphere in Yerevan?

Do they remember the more traditional Armenian mores than the highly male chauvinistic, sovietized metropolises like Yerevan?

Speaking of which, does anyone remember any female luminaries in the Soviet hierarchy since Catherine the Great, except, that is,Valentina Tereshkova, the one and only token female cosmonaut?

We don’t know the employment-unemployment figures. But by the view of an accidental tourist, it seems like Yerevan is run by women. It seems every touristic establishment, all the way from McDonald’s to the Marriott Hotel, from receptionists to the servers, every ticket officer, from the subways, store clerks and street kiosks are run by women. Unless, of course they are used as storefronts, showcases while the real powers are still held by behind the scene men.

To the average tourist it seems like Yerevan is being run by women

Where are the men? What do they do, besides playing nardi at street corners, or, at best operating taxis?

I don’t remember seeing even one woman driver.

Why?

Is it because women cannot manipulate the automatic transmission of a BMW, or because women are more inclined to obey traffic laws?

[Takoush]

Is Armenia fast becoming a matriarchal society, as opposed to the traditional patriarchal, spousal abuse and domestic violence one?

 

If that's the case THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!

 

 

What is the significance of this?

That smaller towns are more emancipated, or are they disappointed by the male dominated atmosphere in Yerevan?

Do they remember the more traditional Armenian mores than the highly male chauvinistic, sovietized metropolises like Yerevan?

Speaking of which, does anyone remember any female luminaries in the Soviet hierarchy since Catherine the Great, except, that is,Valentina Tereshkova, the one and only token female cosmonaut?

We don’t know the employment-unemployment figures. But by the view of an accidental tourist, it seems like Yerevan is run by women. It seems every touristic establishment, all the way from McDonald’s to the Marriott Hotel, from receptionists to the servers, every ticket officer, from the subways, store clerks and street kiosks are run by women. Unless, of course they are used as storefronts, showcases while the real powers are still held by behind the scene men.

To the average tourist it seems like Yerevan is being run by women

Where are the men? What do they do, besides playing nardi at street corners, or, at best operating taxis?

I don’t remember seeing even one woman driver.

Why?

Is it because women cannot manipulate the automatic transmission of a BMW, or because women are more inclined to obey traffic laws?

Arpa jan; we don't know the core or the complete answers; but isn't it encouraging and heartening that we Armenians are finally getting over controlling and manipulating women and have them work with men hand in hand. There are lots and lots of highly educated and smart women in Armenia that can help them with the upper crust too, you know.

 

Whatever the case I feel glad as a woman.

Edited December 3, 2006 by Anahid Takouhi

[Takoush]

Maral for president.

Baron Yervant:

 

You seem to forget that there are other women on the Forum too.

 

I'd certainly vote for Anoushik.

 

She is young, pretty, nice and smart.

[Yervant1]

Baron Yervant:

Yes my Queen

You seem to forget that there are other women on the Forum too.

Yes there are other women, but Armenia needs only one president.

 

I'd certainly vote for Anoushik.

She will be the next president

 

She is young, pretty, nice and smart.

Her name speaks for itself.

 

I had you in mind but you are a queen didn't want to demote you.

[Takoush]

She will be the next president

I know Yervant jan; but Anoushik is new blood with new outlook and with fresh ideas.

 

I had you in mind but you are a queen didn't want to demote you.

[SanVal]

I know what you guys are saying is a joke, but I think it has a lot of truth to it. I bet if they had women running for president in Armenia, they really would vote for the most anoushik one. It would, in fact, turn into a joke.

[Takoush]

You think so? I think the people in AR would have sense enough to vote for an able and an intelligent woman to head their country.

[Arpa]

Of late every subject topic has been stooping to cute one liners.

This topic is not under the subject category of Humor.

It is meant to be a serious debate about Gender Issues.

So, let's see how emancipated we are, and how much respect we have towards our 52% sisters, mothers and daughters.

Can we speak more intelligently, like put more than five words together?

I know what you guys are saying is a joke, but I think it has a lot of truth to it. I bet if they had women running for president in Armenia, they really would vote for the most anoushik one. It would, in fact, turn into a joke.

If I read you correctly, you are saying that if there were an election in Yerevan Province the natives would vote for an airhead?

Are we not underestimating the intelligence of our sisters and brothers there?

There are many serious and intelligently talented women in Armenia. Highly qualified for higher positions. I have met some of them.

If we can’t talk seriously and intelligently about our mothers, sisters and daughters and respect them for their worth, then the myth about the chauvinistically inane and mindless Armenian men rings true.

Edited December 4, 2006 by Arpa

[Arpa]

Here is a list of the members National Assembly of the ROA.

It may be a little old (2003).

See how many women you can spot.

=======

http://www.parliament.am/En/

Name Constituency Position

BAGHDASARYAN Artur 080 President of the National Assembly

TOROSYAN Tigran 057 Vice President of the National Assembly

HOVHANNISYAN Vahan 106 Vice President of the National Assembly

ABOVYAN Hovik 056

ABRAHAMYAN Henrik 022

ABRAHAMYAN Seryozha 054

AGHABABYAN Ashot 048

ALEKSANYAN Lernik 070

ALEXANYAN Samvel 014

ARAKELYAN Artak 088

ARAKELYAN Koryun 120

ARSENYAN Ashot 067

ARSENYAN Gurgen 126

ARSHAKYAN Aghasi 125

ARZAKANCYAN Tigran 068

AVETISYAN Hripsime 130

AVETISYAN Sukias 047

AVETYAN Gagik 089

AYVAZYAN Smbat 010

AZIZYAN Napolyon 121

AZOYAN Hovik 051

BADALYAN Vladimir 016

BADALYAN Volodya 035

BADEYAN Manvel 076

BAGHDASARYAN Ashot 073

BAGHDASARYAN Vahram 037

BALASANYAN Samvel 049

BAZEYAN Albert 096

BISHARYAN Heghine 090

DALLAKYAN Viktor 036

DANIYELYAN Armen 017

DEMIRCHYAN Stepan 092

GABRIYELYAN Eduard 085

GASPARYAN Manuk 004

GEGHAMYAN Artashes 117

GEVORGYAN Nahapet 030

GHALUMYAN Artsruni 055

GHARAGYOZYAN Harutyun 012

GHAZARYAN Manvel 024

GHONJEYAN Grigor 131

GHUKASYAN Areg 072

GRIGORYAN Aramayis 025

GRIGORYAN Arayik 115

GRIGORYAN Hrant 028

GRIGORYAN Rafik 031

GULOYAN Murad 075

GYULZADYAN Vram 038

HAKOBYAN Gevorg 018

HAKOBYAN Hakob R. 026

HAKOBYAN Hakob R. 034

HAKOBYAN Hakob V. 011

HAKOBYAN Hranush 032 Committee Chairman

HAMBARDZUMYAN Arkadi 086

HARUTYUNYAN Aram 044

HARUTYUNYAN Grigor 095

HARUTYUNYAN Hamlet 066

HAYRAPETYAN Ruben 001

HOVHANNISYAN Armenuhi 110

HOVHANNISYAN Hmayak 119

HOVSEPYAN Rudik 112

ISRAYELYAN Sergey 100

KARAKHANYAN Vazgen 078

KARAPETYAN Aleksan 118

KARAPETYAN Hrayr 111

KARAPETYAN Karen 039

KARAPETYAN Yerem 023

KHACHATRYAN Hrant 102

KHACHATRYAN Lyova 020

KHACHATRYAN Surik 052

KHACHIKYAN Vazgen 060

KOCHARYAN Shavarsh 097

KOSTANDYAN Gagik 123

MALKHASYAN Ararat 079

MANASERYAN Tatul 103

MANUKYAN Abraham 071

MANUKYAN Khachik 019

MANUKYAN Melik 045

MANUKYAN Vazgen 094

MARGARYAN Grigor 013

MARGARYAN Hovhannes 091

MARTIROSYAN Razmik 064

MARUKHYAN Vostanik 116

MATEVOSYAN Vardges 077

MELIKYAN Gagik 062

MIKAYELYAN Mushegh 114

MIKAYELYAN Sasun 041

MINASYAN Gagik 059 Committee Chairman

MINASYAN Mkrtich 002

MKHEYAN Gagik 081 Committee Chairman

MKHITARYAN Armen 007

MKHITARYAN Arshak 083

MKHITARYAN Mekhak 029

MKRTCHYAN Ararat 065

MKRTCHYAN Levon 109

MKRTCHYAN Mkrtich (Serzh) 053

MKRTCHYAN Vardan 104

MOVSISYAN Mushegh 027

MURADYAN Harutyun 122

NAGHDALYAN Hermine 063

NAZARYAN Manvel 009

NIKOYAN Samvel 061

PAMBUKYAN Harutiun 008

PETROSYAN Aleksan 084

PETROSYAN Alvard 108

PETROSYAN Artur 129

PETROSYAN Khachik 033

PETROSYAN Rafik 003 Committee Chairman

POGHOSYAN Levon 127

PURTOYAN Armen 074

RUSTAMYAN Armen 107 Committee Chairman

SADOYAN Arshak 099

SAHAKYAN Galust 058

SAHAKYAN Samvel 021

SARGSYAN Aleksandr 069

SARGSYAN Aram 093

SARGSYAN Aram 101

SARGSYAN Levon 006

SHAHGALDYAN Samvel 043

SHAHGELDYAN Mher 087 Committee Chairman

SIMONYAN Artush 005

STAMBOLCYAN Gagik 128

SUKIASYAN Khachatur 015

SUKIASYAN Martin 046

TAMAZYAN Hamlet 040

TSARUKYAN Gagik 042

TSATURYAN Edmund 105

TUMANYAN Samvel 124

VARAGYAN Mkhitar 050

VARDANYAN Mikayel 113

ZAKHARYAN Stepan 098

ZAKHARYAN Sayad 082

 



Constituencies Factions/groups Committees

 

Last updated: 6 August 2003

[Armenak]

Man... what a "kak" fest.

[Takoush]

Hardly nine is it? Or did I read it wrong? Some of the ArevelaHay names are foreign to me; but the list is hardly anything to be proud of. I mean as far as giving any consideration to women and their rights.

 

From a few that I have come across to in the diaspora, I have known that the women in the AR are very intelligent and they are usually educated with at least a Master's degree or better. Then what is the problem?

 

Why aren't Armenia's men are not loosening up and accepting women to be their equal? After all, there's plenty of smart and able women around and they can certainly have them help their men and on the intellectual level too.

 

I hope things got a lot better since 2003.

[Harut]

Where are the men? What do they do, besides playing nardi at street corners, or, at best operating taxis?

I don’t remember seeing even one woman driver.

Why?

Is it because women cannot manipulate the automatic transmission of a BMW, or because women are more inclined to obey traffic laws?

 

there is at least one in yereva... there was an interview on h1 a while back with her... ayspes asats "goghakan kin er"...

 

btw, in soviet time, a big portion of traim operators were women... mostly russian desents though...

[Harut]

What is the significance of this?

That smaller towns are more emancipated, or are they disappointed by the male dominated atmosphere in Yerevan?

Do they remember the more traditional Armenian mores than the highly male chauvinistic, sovietized metropolises like Yerevan?

 

it's just that yerevantsi are more aware of the corruption and all the other nasty things that are going on at the higher political levels...

[Harut]

the way i see it, the status quo does not bother most men, because it's benefical for them... less competition, they have more chances to succeed, they have contorl, etc... in general it's better to be man... so, most men dont' try to change anything (which is understandable to certain extend)... and women... there is no movement to change anything... no movement, just small unimportant organizations...

[SanVal]

What I meant by my comment above is that I don't think women in Armenia are taken as seriously as men. I don't see how that can be interpreted as a comment about the intelligence of Armenian women. It was a comment about how they're perceived.

 

And there's something very wrong about simply counting the number of women in politics. There have been women in politics, but to see if there's some semblance of equality, I would need to know how they got there. For example, Pakistan has had a woman prime minister (Benazir Bhutto), but she was the daughter of someone famous. Similarly, as much as I respect Aung San Suu Kyi (from Burma), she, too, is the daughter of someone very famous in her country. There have also been women in Venezuelan politics, but many of them got there because they had been beauty queens and had participated in Miss Universe. And let's mention our own American Hilary Rodham Clinton...I seriously doubt she would've made it this far had she been known as Hilary Rodham and had not been the victim of her husband's philandering.

 

In any country, until there is a sizeable group of women who have made it on their own--and didn't get support by virtue of being someone's daughter or wife, or because of their looks or charm--there's no reason to think anything significant has occurred.

 

I also don't think that Armenian men should be blamed for everything. Many of the problems stem from Armenian women's own beliefs about gander and how things should be. There are still women there who think their husbands don't love them if they don't beat them.

 

Another major problem with women everywhere is that women don't stick together. You can have a social experiment in any country and put a group of women together and do the same with men, and I'm certain there'll be more name-calling and cat fights in the women's group. The jealousy streak does enough to keep women from bonding together to achieve what they want, and it's something men can use to their advantage.

[ED]

Another major problem with women everywhere is that women don't stick together. You can have a social experiment in any country and put a group of women together and do the same with men, and I'm certain there'll be more name-calling and cat fights in the women's group. The jealousy streak does enough to keep women from bonding together to achieve what they want, and it's something men can use to their advantage.

 

 

 

Amen to that, especially Mother and daughter, its an instinct, but women are self centered and like to have control, Men brings the food in a house and a good women keeps everyone fed, clean and orderly

But women with…. high testosterone levels….., like late PM of England Margaret Thatcher was hated more by English women then IRA.

 

My stand is not every woman, but few. And I don’t see it happen in a very near future will become President of Armenia. In that part of the world women have much more important role to play in a society, in this case in Armenia.

[Takoush]

Amen to that, especially Mother and daughter, its an instinct, but women are self centered and like to have control, Men brings the food in a house and a good women keeps everyone fed, clean and orderly

But women with…. high testosterone levels….., like late PM of England Margaret Thatcher was hated more by English women then IRA.

 

My stand is not every woman, but few. And I don’t see it happen in a very near future will become President of Armenia. In that part of the world women have much more important role to play in a society, in this case in Armenia.

As a woman, as much as I'd hate to admit the validity of these statements but in most parts it is true. Be it in working environments or within Armenian communities when an able and a talented woman comes along, unless she knows how to manipulate other women and men, and to the point of being very strong charactered person and somewhat abnoxious, she is harrassed, kneedled and put down, and guess by whom. Usually by other women and girls. It's sad; but I've seen it happen.

 

I disagree about mothers and daughters disagreements at least personally as I've always adored my saintly mother and my darling daughter; but I don't know of others. They can speak for themselves.

 

Like Ed says, it does not apply for every woman, but some do.

 

I'd hope perhaps, who knows in another ten years we can all talk about this happening.

[Takoush]

For the above post, I of course meant hopefully within ten years we can have a woman for an Armenian president.

[Anoushik]

Baron Yervant:

 

You seem to forget that there are other women on the Forum too.

 

I'd certainly vote for Anoushik.

 

She is young, pretty, nice and smart.

Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence

 

I wouldn't make a good president though; I'm hardly around. I guess I could make you a vice president and you could lead instead of me Not unlike the situation with our U.S. president

[Takoush]

Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence

 

I wouldn't make a good president though; I'm hardly around. I guess I could make you a vice president and you could lead instead of me Not unlike the situation with our U.S. president

Whatever you say Anoushik jan; I'll work for you and with you. No problem.

 

But when I voted for you I didn't vote just because you're pretty, although you are; but because you're young and also because you are smart.

[Eurocentric]

Until the Turko-Islamic "adat"'s are eliminated from Armenian society entirely, dream on...

[kakachik77]

Until the Turko-Islamic "adat"'s are eliminated from Armenian society entirely, dream on...

 

Turkey had a female premier though and Pakistan an Islamic country has Benazir Bhutto, a female premier as well, so the problem is not Turkish or Islamic but rather Russian-influenced (where are those "civilized" Russia's female politicians?)

Edited December 5, 2006 by kakachik77