Women Empowerment in Western Balkan

Abstract Book of the 8th Global Conference on Women's Studies

Year: 2026

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Women Empowerment in Western Balkan

Milica Markovic

ABSTRACT:

The story of women in the Western Balkan region is a story of resilience but also a harsh reality of a century-long struggle for self-sufficiency. Despite notable legal and institutional progress, many women continue to face systematic inequality, violence, and limited access to education and healthcare. In countries where patriarchal norms are deeply rooted within the culture, women often need to fight for basic rights.

Insights from the Femme Foundation’s project, Montenegrin Women of Today: Roads of Emancipation, reveal the discrimination and obstacles women face daily. Burdened by traditional expectations that prioritize domestic roles, women are heavily underrepresented in public, political, and economic spheres. Gender-based violence, both physical and psychological, is in most cases underreported due to social stigma and institutional shortcomings.

The project emphasized the importance of storytelling and visibility as tools for empowerment.
Speakers on the podcast, You Are Not Alone, shared their personal stories with the aspiration to
highlight the need for cultural transformation—shifting public narratives toward more inclusive and empathic discourse. Additionally, the regional conference, Hate Speech: From Hate to Solidarity? revealed complex issues behind alarming levels of violence in our society. Field experts delved into the socio-cultural background and elaborated how war history, poverty, and systematic inequality have generated aggression toward the most vulnerable communities.

Ultimately, our project concludes that real change requires both social and institutional reform of gender roles, led by the voices and experiences of women themselves.

Keywords: Women Empowerment, Gender Equality, Society, Balkan Region, Storytelling