Why Georgia can’t seem to overcome double standard for women in politics

Mamuka Khazaradze, The Founder of TBC bank, who has recently announced his political party, LELO, publicly made demeaning jokes regarding the minister of infrastructure Maya Tskitishvili.

The direct quote reads: "Maya Tskitishvili has no idea what the infrastructure is. Maybe she makes good khachapuri, but I do not know what experiences she’s had in the past life when she was trusted with billions.”

The comments have caused quite an outrage, understandably so. Besides the general public. The Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani publicly responded to this comment via a lengthy Facebook post.

“Since the addressee of this statement is neither an oppositionist nor a representative of the NGO, women’s rights organizations are probably not going to address this disparaging statement… So, I will. Because I always try to protect those who are called women involved in public affairs. At least, I try.

Mr. Lelo Mamuka, do you know that you are insulting the women in your circle with this statement? If you didn't know, now you know. Do you intend to "come" into politics with such statements? …

You also insult every young woman who is either getting the education, or already got it, and I think she is more educated, more healthy and more worthy of trust.

It is obvious that you hate women who dared to stick their nose out of the kitchen,” reads the statement made by Tsulukiani.

Another woman in politics who responded to Khazaradze’s comment was Sophio Katsarava.

“Yes, Mr. Mamuka, we are the women of the 21st century, who are good at making Khachapuri and are involved in politics and public life, whether you like it or not. You adhere to Georgian traditions and Europeanism and do not shy away from discriminatory statements - the two are incompatible,” writes Sophio Katsarava.

Whether or not Khazaradze’s comment was just an unintentional slip-up or conscious effort to ridicule a woman for being involved in politics, it is still quite representative of the tendencies that seem to be resisting the overall progress. Khazaradze himself doesn’t seem to think that the reaction to his comments was adequate.

As a response to the backlash, Khazaradze stated: “Enough comments about Khachapuri. Talk about the stagnant country.”

This is not the only recent example of the very obvious and sexist tendencies with the officials and main political figures in Georgian contemporary politics. The members of the parliamentary majority also openly engage in similar behavior.

After the physical confrontation in the Parliament between the independent deputy, Eka Beselia and Vano Zardiashvili, the member of the Georgian Dream, the comments made by the public figures brought light to just how normal it is to discriminate against women and more importantly how every reprehensible action is deemed even more unacceptable when done by a woman.

The Georgian parliament is not a stranger to physical arguments either. Engaging in violence, especially in the parliament and with thousands watching is wrong, but what stands out in this particular case, is the reaction from the authorities, who at first demanded that the case is evaluated by the Ethics committee and then highlighted just how unacceptable it is for a woman to lose her temper like this. While in the past, when the similar stories occurred between male deputies it was swept under the rug and disguised as just "men being men."

Vano Zardiashvili who made insensitive comments, hinting at footage of Eka Beselia’s private life made public was inherently sexist as well. The members of the opposition largely sided with Beselia and declared the idea of stripping the independent MP of her mandate to be completely unacceptable. Figures like Tinatin Bokuchava, from the United National Movement and Giga Bokeria, from European Georgia, stated that the larger context was being ignored and that since previously similar cases have gone largely without consequences this should not be an exception.

When appearing on tv shows, Vano Zardiashvili made comments about the incident, using the term ‘weak gender.’ Zardiashvili also addressed the hostess of the show with the same term and suggested that women should be held to a different standard.

Gender equality is a pressing issue in the country. While the conversations about this topic are more welcome and encouraged compared to the past years it is misleading to say that since women are more engaged in social and political activities, the core problem has been solved.

In a traditional society like Georgia, changes in perception take more time. But ultimately openly discussing what is inherently wrong and can be improved upon is the correct way towards improvement.

But comments that minimize this issue and more often than not come from the person who is responsible for the controversy, contribute to enabling similar attitudes. Words of public figures greatly determine the general attitudes within society so the importance of such cases should not be overlooked.

In both cases, women sympathized with the one being targeted by a powerful male, which is a tendency worth mentioning and celebrating.