Gerbut N. Gender Representation in Parliaments: Ukrainian Realities and Foreign Experience.

In the thesis there was made a comprehensive study of gender representation in the parliaments of foreign countries as well as in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The problem of gender equality is considered in the context of development of political thought from antiquity to the present day. Here were studied the main factors that influence the gender composition of the parliaments, and the mechanisms to overcome gender asymmetry in the legislative bodies. It was found that the parliamentary activities of female MPs compared to their male counterparts are more focused on protecting the interests of women. Based on the gender analysis of parliamentary elections in the period of independence and composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (I-VII convocation) were determined the causes and consequences of Parliament's gender imbalance. Given the international experience and Ukrainian realities were identified the ways of achieving gender parity in the legislative body of Ukraine.