On the features of public service for women

On October 24, a seminar of the Research and Study Group "Comparative Study of the Situation of Women and Men in Public Authorities" was held.

Tatiana Yatsuk, a consultant for the department on improving public administration and evaluating the effectiveness of federal executive bodies of the Department of Civil Service and Personnel of the Government of the Russian Federation, was the speaker of the event. Tatyana shared with the audience her inside view on the factors that impede women's career development in the civil service. Among such barriers are gender stereotypes and prejudice towards women, for example, prejudices that women always have family and development in it as a life priority; women also often face an underestimation of their leadership potential for the same reasons. In addition, a guaranteed maternity leave with a length of 3 years given to women in the public service is also a problematic aspect. Many employers find it risky to hire / promote a woman because of the likelihood of her leaving after childbirth and the related need to look for a replacement specialist for this period. Tatiana also told about the rivalry between women in the workplace, especially between the more experienced employees and ambitious young specialists.

After the report, the listeners had the opportunity to ask the speaker their questions and take part in a discussion on the reasons for the existing problematic aspects for women in the civil service and the ways to minimize them.