The share of applications for participation in the “Leaders of Russia” from women has increased

The number of applications for participation in the fifth season of the Leaders of Russia competition from women has increased by 5,000 compared to the previous season. This was reported to Vedomosti by the press service of the autonomous non-profit organization Russia – the Land of Opportunities (RSV), which is holding the competition. This year, 58,000 women applied, representing 36% of the total 160,000 entries. Last time, their share was 29% (52,000 people).

In several regions, the share of participants exceeded 50%. These are Adygea (70%), Jewish Autonomous Region (67%), Karachay-Cherkessia (57%), Kurgan Region (55%), Novgorod Region (55%), Tuva (54%), Altai (51%). Most of the participants are in the category from 31 to 40 years old (45%). Another 21% – in the category from 41 to 45 years. Participants under 30 years old – 12%. Another 21% are managers over the age of 46.

A relatively small number of women participate in the “Leaders of Russia”, wrote Alexei Komissarov, General Director of the RSV, in his dissertation “Managing the System of Competitive Selection of Leading Personnel in Russia”. He noted that this problem cannot be solved without changing social attitudes. They remain “very conservative, as evidenced by the low proportion of women in leadership positions in Russia,” Komissarov wrote.

Now in Russia the highest state post among women is occupied by the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko. Among the 89 governors, only one woman is the head of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Natalia Komarova. In recent years, not a single woman has been appointed to the posts of heads of regions.

There are only three women in the government: Deputy Prime Ministers Tatyana Golikova and Victoria Abramchenko, and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. The head of the Central Bank is Elvira Nabiullina.

Komissarov noted in his dissertation that it would be possible to introduce quotas for women who participate in the competition, but this would call into question the principle of objectivity. There is no obvious linear relationship between the level of development of competencies and the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants in the competition, Komissarov pointed out based on the research.

Women show a higher level in a number of competencies in the semi-finals of the Leaders of Russia competition, among them – the ability to work in a team, communication and influence, social responsibility and focus on results. “This can be explained by the fact that in Russian society there is still a wary attitude towards the manifestation of leadership qualities by women, while the manifestation of high communication skills by them is socially approved,” Komissarov noted.

The increase in applications from women can be due to several reasons. For example, there is a growing interest in women’s issues, says Mikhail Vinogradov, president of the Petersburg Politics Foundation. “There is an understanding that the female electorate is considered more loyal, which is important given the presentation of support by voters in the presidential election. Also, the topic of replacing some of the men may objectively be required, although it seems illusory,” the expert notes. At the same time, there is a shortage of symbolic personnel promotions and successful careers for women politicians and officials, he emphasizes.