A survey by WIZO ahead of elections for the 19th Knesset on January 22, found that only 7% of the public believes that a woman can deal with a nuclear Iran. The survey included 500 adults constituting a representative sample of the population, as part of WIZO's campaign to boost the number of women in politics, and especially in the government.
The survey found that the presence of women in leading political positions has a positive influence on the public, which sees women participating in the country's leadership. However, the public still carries a conservative attitude about women's ability to hold key economic and defense positions.
The survey found that 70% of the public does not rule out a woman serving as prime minister, but rejects the idea of a woman serving as defense minister, head of the Mossad, or as finance minister in the next ten years. 77% of the respondents do not believe that a woman will serve as defense minister, 60% do not believe that a woman will serve as head of the Mossad, and a third do not believe that a woman will serve as finance minister. However, 60% believe that a woman could serve as president within the next ten years.
WIZO Israel chairwoman Gila Oshrat said, "The survey's findings depict a dismal picture about the public's perception, which is partly affected by the political reality, which can live in peace with the idea of limited representation of women in all governing institutions and decision-making processes to set government policy. Women's integration in these processes is an important democratic principle and a necessary condition for sustainable economic and social development. Despite the improvement in the status of women in the past decade, we must act to promote full equality in every walk of life, and the government should implement this. The struggle for gender equality is a common social and national challenge."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 2, 2013
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