Gender gap in the federal government authorities under conditions of the rising economic role of women in modern Russia

Issues related to the gender gap in the federal government authorities of Russia are discussed. It is emphasized that Russian women are alienated from “big politics” despite the fact that women have more substantial (compared to men) human capital. This contradiction should be resolved through extension of women’s representation in government bodies of various levels and especially at the federal level, taking into account the highly centralized nature of political power in Russia. The gender pyramid of power (the higher is the power level the lower is women’s representation) was built in the Soviet time and is reproduced in modern Russia without essential modifications. Nevertheless currently the gender structure of economy management is changing women take part in entrepreneurship and management of companies, including the top-management level, more actively. It is concluded that the gender-balanced economy is gradually established in Russia, and it will require more active and responsible participation of Russian women in the political sphere. Non-commercial organizations and public movements, that are efficient enough nowadays in Russia, can be a means of women’s political mobilization. The article is based on the data of the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat) and the World Economic Forum.

political power, representative authorities, gender gap, human capital, women, entrepreneurship, gender-balanced economy