Regulation vs. reality in Serbia: Gender equality, economy and state

Abstract

When the Law on Equality between Sexes (2009) and the National Strategy for Improving the Position of Women and Advancing Gender Equality (2009) were adopted, after a several years of obstruction of proceedings, in Serbia normative prerequisites for the implementation of the gender equality policy and for prevention and sanctioning of all kinds of gender based discrimination were created. In this paper, the author discusses the expected effect of the implementation of the Law on Equality between sexes. In addition, the key argument which restricts its implementation and potential positive effects is explained. The context of the dominate patriarchy and the prevailing human nondevelopment in Serbia does not stimulate neither women nor men, as development actors (manager, worker, trade union, state), to act in the direction to change gender regime and to take responsibility for development of the economy and society.