Skopje, 21 December 2023 (MIA) - Breaking down invisible barriers that prevent women from reaching "the highest levels in the business world, no matter their achievements and merits," according to the definition of "the glass ceiling", is a noble mission, because only by removing them and creating more favorable conditions for women we can reduce the gender gap. We all have a responsibility to create equal opportunities for professional development and to obtain leadership positions, no matter the gender, but also an opportunity for equal pay and reimbursement like that of male leaders, said First Lady Elizabeta Gjorgievska at conference "Women Leaders: Breaking the Glass Ceiling by Bridging the Gender Gap", hosted by M6 Educational Center on Thursday.

"Despite women's progress in the professional world, the glass ceiling still seems high and unreachable. Research shows that women power-holders are viewed as less legitimate than men, to whom power is culturally understood to belong. Women with ambition to be leaders face greater challenges than men, and they are also empathetic for the needs of others, prepared for tough challenges, more organized and coordinated when facing more complex issues, and most importantly, they are open to expert opinions and unconventional ways of thinking," Georgievska said.

According to her, every person who has some kind of influence in society, either through education, business, politics, culture or public sphere, has an obligation to motivate new generations of young people that girls and boys have the right and can reach a high goal. Additionally, she added, we need to support and maintain female solidarity and the professional development of other women.

"When dealing with the gender gap, we must admit that real equality is partnership. Men are not excluded from this dialogue, they are our allies in this fight. Together we must redefine expectations, challenge stereotypes and nurture an environment where both men and women can progress," Georgievska stressed.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of good governance policies, Slavica Grkovska, highlighted the role of quotas, or positive discrimination, as a measure in the efforts of improving women's representation in leadership positions.

"It is now easy to disturb a system that is already comfortable. I say this because my position also disturbs the system, the stability that a certain group of people have. The fact is that more than 40 percent of the current Parliament is made up of women, after many decades they prove that when one firmly believes that their ideology is right, every moment wasted reaching that goal is worth it. Another fact is that due to the lack of quotas, women's representation in local governments as mayors and legislative authority with so few female ministers, only from my party, is minimal," Grkovska explained.

Overcoming the gender gap, according to Grkovska, is a never-ending process that should not be taken for granted, which is why we need men's support and female solidarity for quotas and inclusive policies.

M6 Educational Center Chief Executive Officer, Elena Mladenovska Jelenovikj, said that all trainings and projects of the center are based on gender equality as the basis for the United Nations sustainable development goals. This implies the existence of a "balance" in every element of life, work and both on an individual and group level, especially when building a society.

"Female leadership must not be a replacement of one gender for another. It is a matter of utilizing the unique forces and perspectives of every gender. Today's event is a call for action, because we are here to discuss challenges, and create solutions that will stand the test of time, transform jobs, communities and society as a whole. We must challenge subconscious biases and create opportunities for all, no matter their gender. That will help us lay the foundations for the future where leadership is not defined by gender, but by ability, character and vision," Mladenovska Jelenovikj said.

The conference on the topic of female leadership, with the inclusion of men for the first time, saw representatives from the political, civil and business sector and youth organizations presenting their views on the gender gap, gender inequality in the workplace and society as a whole. ssh/ik/

Photo: MIA/President's Office