November 26, 2006


Kanayq Hayots Action

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Kanayq Hayots, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006

As I recently posted, an albeit small action to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as well as raise awareness of the arguably regressing role of women in peace-building and society in general in the South Caucasus, was staged yesterday. The demonstration, largely attended by female university students as well as several ethnic Armenians from the Diaspora, was organized by the Kanayq Hayots NGO.

Kanayq Hayots Women’s Center was established on July 1, 2003 by a group of undergraduate women from the Sociology Department of Yerevan State University (YSU), Armenia. The idea was also strongly supported by graduate assistant and Ph.D. candidate, Gohar Shahnazaryan, as well as master’s students Anna Malkhassyan and Gohar Hovhanisyan. The Center’s concept was initiated by Lara Aharonian from the “Centre des Femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs de Montreal Quebec”, Canada, and Shushan Avagyan, a graduate student at Illinois State University, USA. Having made a commitment to YSU’s Sociology department, Kanayq Hayots is located at the University’s Conflict Resolution Information Center, but acts as an independent entity.

The Center adopted its name from the existing socio-literary feminist journal that started publishing in 2000 through YSU’s Sociology Department. One of main reasons of Kanayq Hayots’ establishment was to preserve and revive the publication of this journal, which had ceased circulating in 2002 due to a lack of steady financial support. The Center reunites the journal’s editorial and volunteer staff, and now opens its doors to a larger network of women from other institutions and disciplines.

[…] Our objective is to eliminate all types of discrimination against women whatever their age, race, class, nationality, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation. More specifically, our goal is to create a safe environment for every woman on the campuses of YSU.

Interestingly, one of the NGO’s senior members told me that their activities were severely restricted at Yerevan State University on the basis that they ran counter to what was allowed on campus. However, that’s basically a crock of shit given the way that the governing Republican Party of the Prime Minister, Andranik Markarian, has infiltrated Student Councils throughout the land to prevent any real youth movement from emerging in Armenia.

No doubt, independent groupings of Armenian youth represent a threat to the system in place here, and as traditional patriarchal tendencies resurface in Armenia after the collapse of the former Soviet Union it’s no wonder that the issue of gender is so sensitive today. Indeed, at one point the UN had to cancel its plans to work in this area so hostile was the reaction from mostly male members of Government.

A Central and East European Law Initiative (CEELI) report posted by the Armenian Bar Association highlights this fact. Interestingly, it starts with an old proverb that appears to be still alive and well in today’s Armenia, even if we’re supposedly now in the 21st Century.

“A woman is wool; the more you beat her the softer she’ll be.”
- Rural Armenian Proverb

[…]

One of the report’s more interesting findings was the degree to which the Soviet Union’s demise and Armenia’s ensuing independence in 1991 have translated into significant setbacks for women. Unfortunately, this mirrors the experience of women throughout the former Soviet Union. Some of the setbacks to Armenian women since 1991 are very concrete and measurable: during Soviet times, for example, women’s representation in the national parliament was guaranteed to be at least 33%. Today, 9 of Armenian’s 260 parliamentarians are women - - roughly 3%. More difficult to measure is the degree to which the vacuum created by the demise of the Soviet social order has permitted old customs and traditions unfavorable to women to regain currency, and not just among men. As noted in the report: “Women have largely become willing participants in a trend toward conservative, traditional values that limit their public lives and reinforce stereotypes in the home. Moreover, this reliance on ‘custom’ and ‘tradition’ is often used to justify or rationalize discriminatory behavior toward women.”

Well, it has to be said that not only are many of the most interesting and intelligent people I’ve met in Armenia with something sensible and logical to say women, but seeing mainly young females stage an action is certainly more, ahem, aesthetically pleasing than what I’ve been used to in the past. Until now, most demonstrations have been typified by participants wearing black and an average age of 45-50.

Hell, even the police enjoyed this action and took every opportunity to flirt with the girls in attendance. Only goes to show that the wonderful Babe Theory of Political Movements is starting to surface and enrichen all our lives in Armenia. Here’s another quote from the theory.

Another view of the Babe Theory holds that a society will not be ready for democratic reforms if it does not have babes. Babes, you see, are a sign of a certain minimal level of affluence. In international relations circles, there is a belief that a society must have a certain level of wealth before it can truly become free and democratic. Folks like Fareed Zakaria argue that a democracy is nothing special, and perhaps even inimical to the world, if it is “illiberal.” Zakaria uses wealth as a short-cut for determining whether a nation is ready for true democracy.

So, if there are babes, it means the country is ready for democracy, because babes are a sign of wealth and progress.

Anyway, it’s worth noting that a number of bloggers were also in attendance. In addition to myself there were also Raffi N and Arsineh from Life in Armenia as well Anoush from the AVC and Anoush Armenia blogs. Later, Zarchka from Life Around Me and Nareg from Life in Armenia also turned up. Basically, there’s really a feeling that blogging and activism are becoming synonymous here, although I’ve yet to see any posts on yesterday’s actions.

The only disappointing aspect about the demonstration was the lack of involvement from other youth and women’s NGOs in Armenia. Unfortunately, the tendency to compete even on issues which all those involved are supposedly working on is alive and well. No wonder that democratization is still an uphill struggle and most of the population remain apathetic towards the Government, opposition and NGO sector.

Regardless, the Babe Theory of Political Movements is available in full here, while Kanayq Hayots has its web site here.

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Kanayq Hayots, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006

Posted by Onnik @ 5:48 pm. Filed under: Armenia, Society, Culture, Armenian Diaspora, Youth, Human Rights, Blogging, Caucasus, Civil Society, Gender, Activism, Traditions




13 Comments »

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  1. Incidently, talking of tradition and the patriarchal nature of society here, Armenia Now has a tragic story on the same theme in this week’s edition.

    Marusya did not want to marry Ara. But who asks a girl’s opinion in the village? Her father decided that instead. Tariel, Marusya’s father, gave his consent. How could he know into whose hands she would fall? Had he known it, he would have considered his daughter’s opinion, would not have given her in marriage. Now he regrets his decision, but you cannot bring back the girl. Eight years ago Ara and Marusya married, had two children. Ara fished in Lake Sevan, like many men in the village did, but Tariel says that he did not bring money home, instead he spent money on buying drinks. And when he was drunk, he beat his wife.

    […]

    Son Artur, who is ??, was the first to find his mother hanged. On August 3 there was no one at home, his grandfather and grandmother, Ishkhan and Susan, had been in the mountains already for the third month. Ara had gone to the field with his friends to roast potatoes and drink. After playing in his grandfather’s brother’s yard Artur went down to the cellar and saw his mother hanged, he began to cry and ran upstairs.

    The forensic expertise showed that Marusya’s death was caused by strangulation from the weight of the body, no traces of violence were found on her body.

    […]

    The council for minors’ affairs in the village made a decision to give the children in custody to the father’s parents, although there is no document that they are the children’s grandfather and grandmother. The marriage of Marusya and Ara was not registered and the children bore their mother’s surname – Torosyan. Tariel says: “Did they have money to go and register?”

    Marusya’s family lives in better conditions than Ishkhan’s. A glance inside their house reveals that it is surely more suited to the comfort of children.

    But the council followed tradition. And “tradition” says that an orphaned child is returned to his father’s house. Like “tradition” in Gavar says that a man who doesn’t drink is not a man . . .

    The full article is here.

    Comment by Onnik — November 26, 2006 @ 6:47 pm

  2. I wanted to attend the rally yesterday, but unfortunately I am sick in bed. It’s good to at least get a taste of it.

    Comment by Myrthe — November 26, 2006 @ 7:12 pm

  3. It’s good that kanayk are realizing that if they don’t fight for a place under the sun, they will not be seen as an equal factor in the society.

    It has to be a result of a push, not a pull. Otherwise you end up with a fiasco like the affirmative action policies in the West.

    Comment by nazarian — November 26, 2006 @ 7:26 pm

  4. What!? How could this be!? I remember locking the kitchen door.

    Comment by Esoteric — November 26, 2006 @ 7:36 pm

  5. Regnum now has a story on yesterday’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Interestingly, it mentions the situation in Armenia.

    According to a poll conducted in Armenia, 46 of 100 women have been subjected to family violence, 67 were subjected to gender-based infringement. UNDPA Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo Vidal made the announcement at a news conference dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. According to her, most women were subjected to gender-based violence did not turn to appropriate institutions for help.

    The UN representative stressed that despite the fact that in Armenia women’s rights are protected by law and they enjoy equal rights with men, but in reality they are subjected to violence in family, at work and in society. To eradicate this evil it is necessary to change the way of thinking in family and in society. UN institutions active in Armenia have continued rendering assistance to find roots of violence against women and conducting activity in eradicating the violence. Consuelo Vidal also noted that since November 25 to December 10 (International Human Rights Day) in Armenia actions against gender-based violence will be held.

    The full news item is here.

    Comment by Onnik — November 26, 2006 @ 9:29 pm

  6. Probably also worth posting a quote from a related entry that Burnell at Blogrel made last month.

    I am speaking in large generalizations but I have come to understand that when I enter an organization, I will always find the woman in the organization as she is the key. She will make things happen. She understands how to massage the egos especially if there is the all-important director heading the organization. I find a way to bridge the barriers between us and make her a confidant. Through her, success will come.

    In my involvement in the universities, I am finding that the young women are much better students and are much more articulate. The young men spend much of their classes standing in the courtyards smoking where the young woman will attend class and do well on her homework. I want to shake the young men and get them out of their current funk but it seems they are not ready to move out of it in rural Armenia.

    In my effort to help improve Armenia, I am concentrating on successful young people, the vast majority of which are young women. I believe through their efforts and vision, Mother Armenia will improve. What concerns me most is that many young men seem to be without motivation. In rural Armenia, they have lost the eon long drive of Armenians to learn. Their language skills are lacking and many have little reasoning skill. Of course, if you get into the state universities in Yerevan, you will find both sexes doing well. Of course, this is the upper crust of kids who have the means to study in Yerevan and can choose not to study in the regional universities.

    As I meet young people and work with them, I am impressed by some men but displeased with many more. These young men are capable and can understand modern concepts but choose otherwise. Many feel that they are powerless to change their future and when I find a young person who is willing to work hard to change Armenia for the better, that young person receives all the help he/she needs. However, what I am finding is that in rural Armenia, that person is increasing becoming a young woman who leaves the young man behind in a cloud of confusion.

    Armenia will become stronger and thankfully she has a large number of young women to push her forward. The Armenian woman is the true resource. I hope that the young women are encouraged to use their knowledge and skill and not resign themselves to being only wives and mothers. I believe that they can be pillars of the family and at the same time forward Armenia. God bless the motivated young people of Armenia and may their thirst for knowledge and improvement infect those around them.

    The full post is here. Definitely worth looking at for the ensuing discusson in the comments section alone.

    Comment by Onnik — November 26, 2006 @ 10:07 pm

  7. Talking of babes with attitude, the wonderful Zarchka from Life Around Me has now posted her own account of yesterday’s action.

    Well, as I brought another saying earlier sometimes things just seem to be patriarchycal in Armenian families, аs Armenian men like to boast that “Man is the head of the family”, but in addition to that women secretly say: “And woman is the neck of the family, logically what side the neck turns that side the head will go”. Just women let their husbands vaunt a bit unless they have anything worthy to brag with. So, it was interesting to read on the leaflets they were distributing: “Women have their fingers on the pulse of the community”. Hmmm… let me think… Right!

    […]

    Anyways, this is a good idea, let’s keep together girls, our power is in our united efforts!!! Not once we have proved that we are good in anything and everything, there’s not an arduous task for us, not a place where we can’t fit in pretty well and take the rule. And who said we are the weaker sex ???!!!

    Zarchka’s full post can be read here, although as she’s injecting some humour into things, I’m reminded of another joke.

    Q: Why do Jewish men die before their wives?

    A: They want to.

    Anyway, where on earth are the other bloggers who attended yesterday’s action? C’mon guys and gals, we’re all waiting!

    Comment by Onnik — November 27, 2006 @ 12:58 am

  8. Thank you Onnik for covering gender issues. Here are some real life examples that I’ve heard from various people living in Armenia.

    –Two young married women discussing: “How can you think about divorcing your husband, just because he cheated on you? Whose husband doesn’t cheat on these days?”

    –Armenian middle-aged man boasting: “Real man should have a mistress.”

    — Two young Armenian intelligent female business owners hiring a guy just to be physically present in their business sales meetings so that the potential male clients take them seriously.

    –Soviet-era educated mom about her daughter: “One college degree is enough for the girl to get married.”

    –If a woman wants to hold a public office she must be a b**ch.

    –A successful business woman toasting during a business networking party of women-owned businesses. “To the better future when our men will again be able to provide for their families so that we don’t have to work.”

    This is my favorite one (from an article published here http://iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=324711&apc_state=henpcrs)

    “Gagik Beglarian, head of administration of Yerevan’s central district, illustrates a common sense among male politicians that it is shameful to lose an election to a woman.

    “It will be a disgrace to me if I lose to a woman,” Beglarian said after he’d learnt that a woman – a member of the Popular Opposition Party Ruzan Khachatrian – would be facing him in the local government elections last year.

    Khachatrian lost and Beglarian scored a convincing victory in the poll. Khachatrian has never recognised the results, saying that her opponent used underhand methods to rig the vote – a style of operation which she says distinguishes male from female politicians.

    During the election campaign, Beglarian presented bunches of flowers to his opponent instead of engaging in arguments with her.”

    I just wish Armenian men were less conservative and more secure in their skin.

    Comment by Nanul — November 27, 2006 @ 7:34 am

  9. Simon at Blogian has now posted something on women in Armenia as a result of Saturday’s event. Anyway, while Simon mentions Naira Melkoumian it’s worth pointing out that she’s no longer the Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh, but anyway.

    In a general note, why are Armenian women subjected to so much violence? And at the same time, the medieval “women are sensitive [and therefore not fit for certain things]” argument still exists in the Armenian popular culture.

    Is that the reason that almost half of Armenia’s women, as Russian Regnum reports today, have been subjected to family violence? We bit them cuz they are sensitive, right? Is that the reason that macho Armenian brothers bit the crap out of their sisters to “make their sisters a good one”? And then it is OK for these sisters to be bitten up by their husbands since it is what they have seen. It seems like brothers have generally become an obstacle in Armenia for their sisters’ success in life, education and career.

    We laugh at “Aghjka khosqereh asnavani chi” (“the testimony of a girl is not a proof” – a satire saying in a popular Armenian movie), but don’t realize that Armenia’s youth repeats that phrase, and they mean it, thousands of times a day in the streets. Will I offend someone if I say that in Armenia’s rural areas women are usually treated like animals? One will say you can see the similar in all over the United States, but unlike the latter, Armenia has fewer women in legislature than any other country in Europe.

    Why compare Armenia with the world leader? Well, what about India, what about Sri Lanka and Bangladesh then? How come these countries have had women leaders and Armenia cannot? How come Karabakh can, and Armenia cannot?

    Simon’s post is here, and incidently, I interviewed Naira Melkoumian when she was NKR Foreign Minister and touched upon the issue of gender as well as the usual.

    However, can’t seem to find it now, but when I do I’ll post a link.

    Comment by Onnik — November 27, 2006 @ 12:35 pm

  10. Ah, I am getting old. Missed the part when Naira Melkumian stopped being the Foreign Minister. Thanks, Onnik.

    Comment by Blogian — November 28, 2006 @ 10:17 am

  11. Don’t worry. Simon. You’re not getting as old as I am. ;-)

    Comment by Onnik — November 28, 2006 @ 10:40 am

  12. Raffi N has now posted about the action.

    Last week, I joined a group of 50-60 people who took the streets (sidewalks actually) with proper police escort and all. The protest was organized by a grassroots women’s’ group called Women’s Resource Center. We held a vigil and a silent march from the Cascade to Republic Square. There they read out loud their open letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This initiative was part of the women’s coalition for peace in the Caucasus. What this means is that other women groups held similar demonstrations in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ajaria…

    What we were hoping to achieve from this regional civic action was the inclusion of women during the peace talks. As a majority of the victims of war and conflicts, women directly and indirectly are pushed aside when the time comes for developing peace resolutions (for Karabagh for example).

    As part of the learning process, Lara (co-director of this local NGO) feels that the girls (students mostly) involved in organizing and implementing this event have not only learned the essentials of the organizational part, but also that their democratic rights can be practiced, if they put their minds to it.

    Comment by Onnik — November 30, 2006 @ 6:02 pm

  13. The AVC blog now has a short video excerpt of the march.

    Comment by Onnik — December 2, 2006 @ 1:51 pm

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