A lecture about Women’s rights in Georgia: Historical Perspectives and Reality was conducted on August 4, 2021 by Lela Gaprindashvili. Ms. Gaprindashvili is a women’s rights protector, chairwoman of the “Women’s Initiative for Equality” and an author of several books/articles/researches about women’s rights in Georgia and problems of feminism, a professor of gender studies at Tbilisi State University.

The meeting included interesting and actively discussed topics such as women’s lives from old times and medieval years, to Enlightenment and suffragists and today’s reality with much more feminists and improved laws. Introductory talk was focused around major widespread theories (Rationalism, Liberalism, Enlightenment) and how they saw women’s rights or their roles within society. Also, when and where did first feminists appear in the world, as well as in Georgia and how were they fighting for equal rights.

Very important Georgian figures, such as Barbare Jorjadze and Kato Mikeladze were mentioned and discussion involved their activities and initiatives for sake of women back in 20^th century. Therefore, a comparison of Georgian and Western feminist practices was done and participants, along with the speaker, named the biggest challenges of Georgian feminism and protecting women’s rights, followed with ideas of what can be done for sooner and brighter changes.  

The lecture was held in the framework of the project Youth for Diversity and Pluralism, which is conducted by the Civil Council on Defense and Security and Max Planck Foundation, with the financial support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.

Photo gallery