Women’s group: men are rude to women in politics

A group which seeks greater female involvement in Czech politics has concluded that male attitudes present a major stumbling block to female advancement. The group, entitled “Forum 50%” seeks to reverse the fact that the Czech Republic has one of the lowest male-to-female ratios of women in politics in the developed world. At present, women make up only 15.5 percent of MPs in the lower house of Parliament, and 17.3 percent of the senate. According to Lenka Bennerová, a representative of Forum 50%, women are often treated rudely, belittled and even mocked when attempting to present legislation. The forum attempts to empower women by educating them in effective strategies to combat such prejudices.