Doru Pop Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes in Romanian Political and Media Cultures

Caietele Echinox, vol. 30, 2016 : Repenser le politique… 303 Doru Pop Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes in Romanian Political and Media Cultures

ABSTRACT The official statistics made public by This paper has three main research objectives. The the national institutions and the European first is to analyze the main types of representations research barometers confirm a fact other- and roles attributed to women in the Romanian wise clear for those living in our society: political sphere. The second is to describe the social Romania today is still a predominantly roles ascribed to women in various fields of visual patriarchal society, where multiple gender culture. By overviewing several discourses used in gaps are creating huge inequalities between fields like media, advertising and cinema, this men and women. This male dominant analysis searches for clues in the inner mechanisms of contemporary Romanian social dynamics. The society is also macho-ist, in the sense that it final and overall objective is to provide a map of the cultivates a type of masculinity which is representations of women in both public and private arrogant and aggressive, displaying violent space in Romania today. The research focus is to and rude behavior as a sign of dominance. sum-up the main elements of what could be called One of the most important gender the “Romanian imaginary” with respect to the disparities is at the level of decision making, representations of femininity, womanhood and, manifested in the radically different political generally, the relationship between males and roles attributed to males and females at females. Finally, this relationship between men to various levels of administration, both national women is used as an indicator and as an explanatory tool for understanding the more profound mech- and regional. According to some data pro- anisms that are operating in the deep rooted biases vided by the Ministry of Labour, this gap is of Romanian society. By using a series of case unequivocal at the highest levels of govern- studies from the political sphere and the media, the ment, with the political representation in the author searches for arguments that would explain Bucharest Parliament displaying an explicit the formation and the continuation of a patriarchal discriminatory attitude towards women. Even culture, dominated by a “macho men” mythology. if more than 51% of the electorate is

KEY WORDS composed of women, currently only 9,4% Patriarchy; Feminism; Gender and Culture; Political of the members of the Senate and 11,2% of Discrimination; Violence Against Women; Media the House of Representatives are women. Representation of Women; Objectification. Out of the 22 ministers of the cabinet, only 3 were women with the situation getting DORU POP even worse at the local and regional public Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania administration level, where only 7% of the [email protected]

Doru Pop 304 county managers (prefects) of representing of femininity and woman- and 4% of the mayors are hood. women at this moment. The The main concept used here will be statistical data makes clear that the Roma- “imaginary” which, although a theoretical nian politics is dominated by men1. Even barbarism, covers and describes the common the United Arab Emirates have a higher rate mechanisms of the collective psyche. Using of political participation of women in the the term of imaginary (and not imagination) overall process of decision making. This is allows explaining the dominant types of why the first research question of this paper relationships between men and women in will deal with the political representations Romanian society, media, politics and of women. private space. Other major discrepancies are observable in multiple other social contexts, yet, as shown by the main indicators of Eurostat, in A Brief Historical Survey the Masculine the Romanian society there is an extremely Over-Empowering in Politics high gender gap in education, labour and wages, health and overall access to re- When I am describing Romanian soci- sources2. For example, although 60% of the ety as patriarchal I am using the classical graduates of higher education are women, definition of the concept, as it was ex- the teaching staff remains predominantly plained and detailed by Kate Millett3. The male at the tertiary level. The inequalities most important part of this definition, useful continue in the general workforce, since the here, is seeing patriarchy as a trans-political rate of employment is 20% lower for wom- form of politics, beyond specific governments en than for men and the medium wages of and ideologies, since it is a manifestation of women are 8% lower than those of their exclusive male power. There is a long male counterparts. These genders gaps in history of patriarchy and of patriarchal social relevance are even more profound politics, as convincingly this classical feminist when it comes to the public imaginary and author claims, which cannot be determined the cultural roles women are distributed in by historical specificity or particular cultural the Romanian society. Thus the second re- contexts. It is rather a manifestation of a search question will analyze the representation process designed to “control and subordinate” mechanisms of women. women throughout known history. Last but not least, the purpose of this This gender based segregation was paper is to provide a general map of the seen by the classical Marxist theorists, as it media discourses related to women and their was developed mostly by Engels in his identity formation. Looking into recent Ro- famous work “The Origin of the Family, manian cultural, media and political repre- Private Property and the State”4, with links sentations, the focus will be to describe how to patriarchal exploitation and capitalist pro- women are portrayed in various fields in duction. In fact, as later suggested by Juliet visual communication. In contemporary Ro- Mitchell5, patriarchy is in and of itself a manian society the discourses that are used form of ideology, a cultural manifestation of in politics and society become practices in sexual domination, which is not strictly the private space, so the transfer from ad- linked to capitalism or labor exploitation. vertising and media images will allow us to In the following I will be using this describe in qualitative terms the Romanian cultural approach definition, or even more imaginary today, the elements and structures specific, a description of patriarchy as a

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… psycho-cultural manifestation. It is this Returning to the specific 305 aspect of the patriarchal relations that my Romanian historical back- analysis would be focusing on, a patriarchy ground, I must begin by defined as a type of relationship which has stating that patriarchal mentalities continued most primitive roots in our civilization, ones to dominate our society even during com- that can be traced as early as the 2nd millen- munism. Although the main Marxist ideo- nium before our era6. Particularly the impli- logical values were centering on the cations and the recent manifestations of this liberation of women from the captivity of mythological and cultural function of patri- the bourgeois exploitation, this promise was archal values, which was transmitted in never fulfilled, since even during the com- human societies as a bi-product of historical munist regime in Romania women continued relevance, is the object of this interpretation. to be distributed in subservient and domestic In order to have a more nuanced dis- roles. cussion about the gender roles in contemporary Romanian society, I think it would be proper to add to patriarchy another important Submitting Ourselves to the All-Powerful notion, a necessary distinction which is Father provided by the term machismo. Even if initially the concept of “macho” was used The fact that Nicolae Ceauşescu for describing Latin American gender cul- developed his own cult of personality, based tures, machismo represents a type of mascu- on the patriarchal mythologies and the linity which is often manifested in countries Father-figure imaginary and was inspired by like Romania. By macho I understand a Stalin or Mao, lead to the accentuation of form of masculine social behavior by which the traits of an already paternalistic society. virility is presented as socially desirable, as Using the overall submissiveness existing in privileged and valuable, without being Romania and by replicating pre-existing necessary dominant in terms of the political paternalistic discourses, Ceauşescu projected order. A macho culture invests manhood himself as the “Father of the nation”. In this with “special” qualities and persuades even new “socialist patriarchy,” which fed on women that being a man is better and that traditional nationalistic predispositions, the women need to accept this “natural” trait of Supreme Leader claimed that he descended males. As Guttman described “macho” in its from the great kings of the past (like Bure- Mexican context, this is a term circum- bista, the so-called creator of the Dacian scribing various types of male behaviors, state). As I detailed in another research8, from public displays of virility in gangs to this patriarchal leadership constructed a new clear male chauvinism in the work space. “Macho Romania,” where the public imagi- Thus we must understand the role played in nation was flooded with images built upon society by the psychology of machismo – the symbolics of masculinity. As seen in which is including a certain phallic self- this illustration showing Ceauşescu taking identity and ostentatiously exhibition of the “scepter of power” as President of So- typical aggressive attitudes. The macho is cialist Romania, the typical kingly pose was always “in charge,” takes over discussions borrowed in a society apparently designed and is constantly controlling others by to bring forward equality (photo 1). Albeit asserting its manhood, even cultivating a ideologically the regime was supposed to certain disrespect towards authority or create gender equality, during the Ceauşescu social restrictions7. regime the guidelines put forward by the

Doru Pop 306 “founding fathers” of Marx- the gaze of the dominant males surrounding ism – that is the need of or accompanying her. If they are out of the dismantling the patriarchal household, the women are often with a bourgeois social relations – was transformed companion and they perform passive roles in the praxis of socialism into an even more in situations dominated by their male discriminatory society. The paroxysm of counterparts (Photo 3). this trend was reached when Ceauşescu Another relevant instance is the distri- forcibly banned abortions and began to bution of characteristics within the happy control the bodies and reproductive systems couple of the socialist President. As seen in of his fellow socialist women. the visual example, taken from a socialist This blending of communism and pa- promotional image, a propaganda piece triarchalism became visible not only in the included in many magazines of that time, public interactions and discourses, but it the representation of the Ceauşescu family also dominated the private life in Romanian was following the typical communist scheme society. Just by looking at two instances, of the Mother and Father surrounded by taken from the socialist magazines, we children. Just like in the Soviet visual struc- observe that the stereotypes of gender roles tures, where the Father was standing in the continued to be in place. The patriarchal middle as the benevolent “Big Daddy” bias is illustrated by two ads which are (Tătucul), this imaginary structure was representing women in specific roles. As the important in the socialist political mentality. two visual instances selected from the so- Depicting Nicolae Ceauşescu as the father cialist advertising indicate, the representation of all the children of nation and his wife of women follow the “old,” patriarchal Elena as their mother – she was called in order. In the first category of promotional public displays of propaganda as “Most messages I selected ads which were for beloved mother” – actually helped reinforcing commonly used home appliances (vacuum the typical mythology the bourgeois family, cleaners, washing machines) (Photo 2). as made explicit by this painting made by Relevantly enough, the women are Sabin Bălaşa, one of the most important always represented as diligent housewives, plastic artists of that time (Photo 4). wearing head scarfs and aprons, always More importantly, in the informal happy to do the cleaning of the house, never circles, by word of mouth, by dissemination having their male counterparts involved in of jokes and political gossip, this image of these activities. Not only were women the “benign” father of the country, the wise described as inferior to men but, more leader of the nation was kept intact by using relevantly, they continued to be distributed a negative depiction of his wife. During the in social roles related to domesticity and the worse years of the Ceauşescu regime (mostly inherent presence of a powerful male (a the last part of the 80s), the public disdain husband, a possible partner). Clearly the was not directed towards the “good Presi- women were “naturally” taking care of the dent,” it was his wife, Elena, who was to be household. In the second type of social blamed. She received many of the criticisms roles, where a dozen of images were se- of their countrymen, who were using the lected where women were described in stereotype of the “evil mother.” As reproduced situations not related to domestic activities by the most prominent defector from Roma- (outdoors, free time), we see a distribution nia, the Securitate general Ion Mihai Pacepa, of roles where the woman is always sexually many believed that she was the one who available, a submissive beauty dependent on decided to turn her family into a dynasty,

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… with their youngest son as the heir of the 307 “communist throne”9. The “poor” leader was simply a victim of his wife's ambitions and the blame fell on this “evil witch”. The Return of the Macho President Clearly the political decisions were taken by Ceauşescu himself and this game of guilt Even though the characteristics of the indicates the presence in the public psyche macho presidency of Nicolae Ceauşescu of the negative projection of the woman as were purposefully avoided by the first two the source of all evil. post-communist leaders who took the Presi- This myth of the good patriarchal dent office after the Revolution of 1989 (Ion leader continues to be a reality in Romania Iliescu and Emil Constantinescu), the social today, and even if the society is changing need for a “strong politician” never vanished. under the pressure of the new models of Iliescu and Constantinescu, who were dis- behavior, mostly coming from Western playing a certain refrain from authoritarian Europe and which are less driven by male and aggressive masculine attitudes, were authority, as it is shown by a 2014 INSCOP often described as “weak” and Constantinescu opinion poll10, almost a quarter of the ended his mandate as a “defeated” Pres- respondents (24.7%) consider that Nicolae ident. It was only in 2004, when Traian Ceauşescu was the best Romanian president Băsescu entered the presidential campaign and there is an apparent “patriarchal” expla- that the public had the opportunity to vote nation for this popularity. As confirmed by for this type of political behavior. With the results of a 2006 poll, made by the Băsescu the macho attitude returned to the Foundation for an Open Society, which highest level of political decision making in indicated the clear preference of the Roma- Romania. nians for “strong” political leaders, our Thus the two mandates Băsescu held as society continues to highly appreciate a type President are extremely relevant and provide a of politician who shares common traits with fitting case study for the contemporary the macho-patriarchs, such as being authori- political imaginary structures in Romanian tarian, being able to impose discipline and society today in terms of aggressive mascu- being charismatic11. linity. As I pointed out in an in-depth study The social representations and the of the visual representations in political social practices continue to cultivate manly campaigns in Romania12, the public figure figures, while having women in domesticated of Traian Băsescu was constantly developed contexts. This pre-defined masculinity is around the values of a patriarchal gestures attached to power, dominance and the right and postures. His political and public image, to control others, to aggressively interact his nonverbal behavior and his speech with both men and women, continues to be constantly used phallic symbols, words of the major driving force of our public space. aggression and dominant stances – starting with the red chili pepper he used in the campaign for mayor in Bucharest to his pointing fingers in the presidential campaigns, or even his poignant recourse to bad mouth- ing his adversaries in the public debates. Băsescu projected himself as an assertive, macho politician, using a type of autochtho- nous machismo, very brutal and extremely

Doru Pop 308 forceful. The “tools” of his women in the national politics – with many political imaginary included examples, from Anca Boagiu (a former the symbolic impaling of his Minister of Transportations), to Roberta enemies – during the impeachment referen- Anastase (former Head of the House of dum his campaign managers even created Representative) and others like Sulfina Barbu, public steaks where he threatened to bring Raluca Turcan or Monica Iacob Ritzi – I the corrupt members of Parliament – and consider that the relationship he developed culminated with his presence in a comedy with his female collaborators indicates the show where he was asked to present contrary. In the following I will use a couple publicly his drinking habits, and, while in of examples which will illustrate not only office, the President performed a demon- the manner in which the former president, stration with four ice cubes and a bottle of who is still a major political model today, whiskey. His stated the difference between behaved with women, but also the general “a man who knows how to drink whiskey attitude of men towards their female coun- and one who drinks stupidly”13. terparts in politics. Băsescu displayed wherever he could these patriarchal traits, and his public behavior was beyond his own “natural” male- All the President’s Women centered superiority – since he always boasted that he was a captain of an oil tanker and In the recent televised interview that he was able to “lead men”. Of course, already mentioned, when asked by the TVR his overt macho gasconade had him elected reporter who were the most powerful wom- in two consecutive terms and even after en in Romania today, the former President leaving office his fellow citizens continue to identified two persons. Both of them, he describe Băsescu as the best president since claimed on various occasions, had been 1989, as revealed by another 2014 INSCOP promoted by him to top positions: Laura poll14. Relevantly enough, although Emil Codruta Kövesi and Elena Udrea. This Constantinescu was perceived as the most would appear to be a positive trait, a male “democratic” leader, his presidency was politician who consciously promotes women appreciated by the lowest number of re- shows a necessarily propitious attitude. spondents. Comparing the two types of Once again, in the very answer, Băsescu leaders we see that democratic behavior is discloses a widespread stereotype. By stating perceived as weak, while autocratic and that women, “no matter how much men discretionary politicians are seen as strong supported them, they in turn do not support figures in the Romanian imaginary. each other,” he is manifesting his disdain Yet far from being a positive pater- for the ability of women to collaborate. In nalistic figure, Băsescu was an exaggerated the following subchapter I will detail the aggressive character, who was often portrayed traits of these two political female figures, as bullying his collaborators and his discre- but before that we must survey the other tionary attitude was frequently criticized. In “President’s women”, public figures, female this sense Băsescu provides a relevant politicians who publicly acknowledged that illustration for the specificity of patriarchal they had been promoted by Băsescu. and machoistic political behavior in Roma- As one of these women, member of nia today. And even if, in a recent televised Parliament Andreea Vass, states in her polit- interview15 for the National Television (TVR), ical program, as long as Băsescu was the Băsescu claimed to have promoted many leader of the Liberal Democrat Party he

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… “grew” and “promoted” a new generation of woman journalist from An- 309 political women16. The problem with this tena 3 (a TV station belonging declaration is that is indicates the instrumental to his political adversaries) role of men in the career development of he yanked her telephone and called her women, it actually points to the hierarchical “birdie” (in Romanian “păsărică” is a vulgar domination existing in Romanian public reference to women genitalia)20. This was sphere. Băsescu continued to perpetuate the not a singular instance, since a more blatant model of the Father-figure who tells women case of insensitivity was when he publicly what to do and who, by his benevolence, offended a cancer inflicted woman journalist, “allows” them to have social meaning. In Corina Drăgotescu, who was also one of his 2013, at a reunion organized by a business most astute critics, and to whom Băsescu magazine targeting women, the President in mockingly addressed a fake greeting, telling office at that time told his female audience: her that “God should give her as much “girls, make at least a baby, it is a patriotic health as the truth she told”. The offensive duty,” and then he went on telling them how and abusive language seems to be an he persuaded his own daughters to become integral part of the macho speech of this mothers. Notwithstanding the sheer brutality rude politician. Another woman that the of this advice, coming from a man who also President boasted about having promoted, publicly acknowledged that he was absent Lavinia Şandru, at that time also a member from the education and nurturing of his of Parliament representing the “presidential” daughters17, it represents the inherent right Democratic Party, was publicly admonished of men to intervene in the intimate life of by her “promoter”. In 2005, upset that women. Yet the discriminatory conclusions Şandru’s political statements went against that he openly stated at that time were his will, Băsescu insulted her directly in the shocking – Băsescu asked these women media by saying: “in politics it is easy to be managers how many children they had and left on the political sidewalk” (in Romanian criticized them by pointing to a racist fact: “centura politicii”). Albeit seemingly innoc- “Why in God’s name the Rromani woman uous, in this declaration the President was can carry five-six children and the Romanian actually using a vulgar expression from woman cannot?”18. Fortunately many non- street slang, which calls women prostitutes governmental associations reacted to this as “sidewalkers” (“de centură”). More so, blatant discriminatory, mysogynistic and by describing her as a “talkative young miss” prejudiced declaration19. Yet it was in the (“vorbăreţei domnişoare”) and pointing out patriarchal logic of this macho President, to her pretended promiscuous behavior, the since a couple of years before the same President was actually disempowering and politician was penalized by the National humiliating an otherwise remarkable and Council against Discrimination because he independent young political figure. But the called a local journalist with the insulting worst was yet to come, since several years name-calling “filthy Gypsy”. later Şandru claimed to have made peace This gross insensitivity of the President with the president and even accepted that it in office expressed at the same times a was a “lesson in politics from a very dear profound disrespect for women generally, person”21. Abusive behavior is not only manifested at the highest level of political performed, but it is also accepted and ex- and social authority. The President, who cused by the women who suffer from it. went mall shopping in a public relations And, if we follow the chronology of flack, when he was approached by this the former President’s attitude towards

Doru Pop 310 women, which was expressed even close to that of Traian Băsescu. While publicly and was never hid- Muscă’s vilification and humiliation lead to den, we can identify here a her removal from politics, her male counter- couple of more patriarchal traits, extremely parts who were also connected with the relevant for this current discussion. On one communist secret police were dealt with hand there is Băsescu’s patriarchal attitude more tolerance by the media. of bestowing on women his masculine The third element of machist Romania ability to impart benefits. Yet this is done in is showcased by the derisive and abusive a very nepotistic way. This is explicit in the manner in which Băsescu dealt with the fact that he pushed his own daughter, Elena, women who opposed or “disobeyed” him. for a seat in the European Parliament, al- One of the best examples is provided by though her qualifications were far from Adriana Săftoiu, who collaborated with the justifying such a nomination and she was President for more than a decade and who subjected to many criticisms, some even was his presidential counsellor and speaker suggesting that her father bought the votes of the Presidency. As Săftoiu details her for her through intermediaries22. experiences with Băsescu in her memoirs Nevertheless, a major machist attitude from the presidential palace, she did not which is displayed by Băsescu remains the build her career exclusively as one of the clear hostility towards actually powerful closest collaborators of the President, but women. This is best illustrated by his han- was a well-known journalist and a reputed dling of Mona Muscă, who was a potential public intellectual before working “in close nominee for the leadership of the National quarters” with Băsescu. Yet when the Presi- Liberal party and his most fearsome counter- dent believed that he was “betrayed” by candidate for Presidency. By 2006 Mona Claudiu Săftoiu (Adriana's husband), he Muscă reached a level of public confidence came out in public and virulently disclosed of 46%, and, as Adriana Săftoiu points out that he had appointed him as the head of the in her memoirs, she dared to confront the Secret Service just because he was her President. After an encounter with Muscă, husband25. In a public appearance at one of Băsescu is quoted to have said: “This is the the tabloid televisions in Romania, OTV, day when women tell what to do in the President in office scolded his former politics”23. Later, when Muscă was reaching collaborator and disclosed a shocking fact, high levels of popularity she made a fatal by saying that he “made” her husband chief statement which consequently24. Next her of the Secret Service just because her “little political career abruptly ended when parts of soul so desired” (ţi-a dorit sufleţelul). This her Securitate files went public – needless to diminishing of her qualities (by using the say that some journalists claimed that the diminutive of “soul”) is yet another clear President was involved in this exposure. indication of this mentality of the political Mona Muscă collapsed from being one of patriarch who is not only imparts gifts upon the most powerful and promising women in the women he appreciates, but also of his Romanian politics to total anonymity. authoritarian decision-making, of appointing Mona Muscă was quickly and harshly public officials out of personal whims. condemned by the public opinion and was Last but not least, a more recent demonized by the media. Although her example, after Băsescu left the Presidential actions during the communist regime, when office, shows how this misogynous behavior he signed informative reports to the Securi- remains a pattern. In a dispute with a wom- tate, were blamable, her attitude was not an senator, Gabriela Firea, Băsescu once

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… more resorted to threats and violent language. powerful woman – as Udrea 311 He told Firea, who used to be a critical is self-describing her career journalist towards his Presidency, that she in her own political program. should “keep her husband in check, because She perceives herself as a model for all if she won't take care of him, her husband women in her country, even as a “success of won't come home”. Gabriela Firea followed feminism”. Her campaign, called “Beautiful with a lawsuit, yet this distribution of roles, Romania” was using slogans like “it is time in which the woman should be careful with for a woman president”. Yet the same cam- her household is more than a menace, it is a paign is the best illustration for the exact cultural expression of the “homemaking” opposite. While she encourages “beautiful attributes a woman should assume (with the women who want a career” to enter politics refusal of her possibility to get involved in – this being in her opinion the ultimate the “politics of men”). achievement – once we study the typology of Elena Udrea we observe how she was constantly distributing herself in an object- Elena Udrea, the Most Beloved tified manner. Collaborator of the President First this is visible in a scandalous pictorial published by a notorious women Assuming this patriarchal role of the magazine, One28. In a series of photographs, “protector of women”, the former president made in May 2006, Udrea portrayed a was in fact perpetuating a stereotypical feminine identity where nudity and the function of women in a world dominated by display of overt sexuality were not only men, and this would become even more acceptable, but also encouraged (photo 5). obvious by using one of his women collabo- What seems unacceptable is the fact that rators as a case study. In fact the only woman during that time she was not a private that the former president continued to protect person, she was the executive secretary of after leaving office was Elena Udrea. She the Democrat Party, also known as the was promoted from his personal secretary at “presidential party”. More so, while per- the Presidency, to one of the most important forming sexual roles of submissiveness and women in the public sphere. Udrea is casting herself in attitudes rewarding men's described in the media by her political allies gaze for the marketing purposes of a glamour and foes as the personal favorite of the magazine is debatable, in many of her President – once again Săftoiu’s memoirs are political appearances Udrea was dressed in indicating clearly that, as the head of the a sexualized manner. She even got global Presidential Chancellery, Udrea became one notoriety during the 2014 presidential cam- of the biggest “weaknesses” and a “vulnera- paign, when a British newspaper identified bility for the President”26. Udrea climbed the her as the “Yummy mummy politician,” for social and political hierarchy from the obscu- inappropriately showing her cleavage in a rity of a Miss Teenager 1991 candidate27 to public meeting with her potential electorate29. the position of Minister of Development and This was overtly done also in her ads for the her candidacy on behalf of the Presidential presidential campaign, where, in a series of Party (MMP) for the Presidential elections of public billboards, the candidate was fighting 2014. What are the traits that made her so for the highest office in the country by car- successful in “Macho Romania”? rying the apparently innocent messages: On the one hand it appears that she “Good for Romania, good for health”, represents a type of strong personality and a “Good for Romania, good for education”.

Doru Pop 312 Yet, purposefully or not, in Against Corruption, a branch of the General the Romanian language at- Prosecutor Office specially created to combat tributing the term “good” the misconducts of public officials. Kövesi (bună) to a woman becomes actually a was appointed in 2006 by Traian Băsescu depreciative epithet and is an indirect sexual because, as he stated in an interview, he innuendo. More so, the way Udrea chose to wanted “a young woman” in this office31. dress in these banners, which were exhibited Kövesi is the actual opposite of Udrea – her all over the country, was belittling her appearance is rather masculine, she often political identity. Projecting herself in the wears business cut suits, in monotone colors Romanian public sphere as a young school and with a personal style that is neutral, girl, with a pink backpack and a provocative from her haircut to her manners. She is pose, although was obviously exploiting her extremely popular, with a confidence rate in tantalizing image and using “sexiness” as an general polls above 50%. Nonetheless, inciting manner of reaching her audience, although not a political figure, very often was a form of gender stereotyping. Kövesi is criticized by the media opinion Udrea publicly affirmed that she saw leaders and by some of the politicians for nothing wrong in the fact that powerful men being simply “an instrument” of occult always need to take a dominant role, both in political purposes. One of the most impor- politics and in society. In an extremely tant editorialists in Romania today, Ion relevant public statement, Udrea acknowl- Cristoiu, constantly minimizes Kövesi’s edged that behind “every powerful political achievements, and is even name-calling her man there is a powerful woman”30. As many “Lulutza”, thus suggesting on his blog media commentators pointed out, Udrea has (cristoiublog.ro) that she is nothing but a extracted her power from her close rela- mindless expression of the “political police tionship with Traian Băsescu and has sent of the Presidency32. Others have attacked the message that women can be powerful her for plagiarizing her Ph.D. thesis and only if they associate themselves with some, like the president of the Senate, even powerful men and only if they remain loyal questioned her patriotism and claimed that and obedient. she was “guided by the foreign embassies”33. A powerful woman, no matter how many results and proofs she has for her profess- Powerful Women and the Invisible sionalism remains a simple “tool” of some- Feminist Romania body else. Another powerful woman in the This leads us to the next important national politics who does not follow within question – is the success of women in Ro- the logic of sexual objectification is Monica manian society defined only by personalities Macovei. Although Macovei was also close like Elena Udrea? Are there any other types to Băsescu, since she was appointed Minis- of powerful women in such a patriarchal ter of Justice with the President’s support34, social group? Once again, the list of pow- she soon became an independent politician erful women includes many of those promoted and started her own political movement by Traian Băsescu in various official func- called M10. Macovei was the second wom- tions. And, as the former president himself an who made her bid for presidency in stated, maybe the most powerful woman 2014, and even got more votes than Elena today is Laura Codruţa Kövesi, currently the Udrea. Yet she was constantly chastised by head prosecutor of the National Direction the media and by former president Băsescu

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… as “a communist prosecutor”, her past being also to the fact that in con- 313 turned against her extremely convincing temporary Romania there isn’t career in the present. The disparaging attitude an authentic and politically towards her included awful defamations and relevant feminist movement. After 1989 calumniations – she was smeared as alcoholic, several women intellectuals in Romania described as a woman incapable of having a opened up the door toward the research and family, libeled as an imperfect creature of wider debate about femininity and the role many defects, especially since he had no of women in society. Maybe the best exam- husband and was without children. All of ple remains Mihaela Miroiu, one of the these negative epithets and her character as- most important feminist researchers in Ro- sassination were linked to her domestic manian academia today. In one of her inabilities. Once more, a woman without a seminal studies, Miroiu identified three husband and who was following her career types of feminist approaches in contemporary path is considered to be “inferior” to men society36. The first is a type of feminism who, many of them, were doing the same which, according to Miroiu, is imported from thing. the European Union and it is imposing legal Another way of discrediting powerful standards and principles not yet integrated women is by disparagingly identifying them in the imaginary of Romanian society. This as “feminists”, since in the Romanian public “room-service” feminism is basically just a sphere feminism is often used as a negative superficial layer of political representation, label. In this context a negative example expressed by discursive practices perceived shows how this derogatory attitude towards as artificial even by women. The second type powerful women goes even outside the po- of feminism, which can be described as a litical sphere and is a widespread social form of radicalism, is mainly specific to a practice. As shown by a public conflict group of women writers affiliated to Critic- between two journalists, Miruna Munteanu, Atac, and other online journals and platforms an important female editorialist and Dan dedicated to the criticism of capitalist Ciachir, a conservative publicist, women are society. often attacked by their male colleagues on Last, but not least, there is the type of gender basis and are picked at by being feminism that Miroiu herself practices, labelled as “feminists”. As Ciachir maliciously which she describes as “neoliberal feminism” describes those women who are fighting for – a feminism that has political relevance, political rights as “frigid”, their frigidity but it is not a political movement, it is rather presented as good for all explanation as any a cultural and academic stance, motivated manifestation of atheism35. Such symbolic by the necessary debate on some of the most connection indicates once more that the important feminist concepts. Miroiu is fol- image of the successful women in Romanian lowed by more recent women writers, like society is conventionally linked with obedi- Diana Elena Neaga (with Gen şi Cetăţenie ence within matrimonial bonds. Those women în România), Bianca Burţa-Cernat (Fotografie (like Macovei or Kövesi) who are not fulfil- de grup cu scriitoare uitate) or Oana Băluţă ling their traditional roles must be repudiated (Feminism reflexiv modern) who are valuable and presented as negative examples for their thinkers bringing to the public fore essential “sin” of not being “feminine” enough. viewpoints in some of the major intellectual Unfortunately this minimizing attitude debates. towards women and the misunderstanding of the key values of feminist politics is due

Doru Pop 314 Simona Sensual, Oana Zăvoranu, Andreea Bănica, Laura Cosoi and Andreea Raicu. Without going too deep into a media Sexualized and Superficial Roles analysis, just by looking at the first three of Women in Society women in this “top” it becomes obvious that the most popular women in Romania, the Regrettably these efforts are not powerful most important women in the society, are enough to change a more profoundly negative sexualized objects, objectified representations representation of women in the collective of womanhood. Relevantly enough, the most psyche and the subsequent distribution of popularized feminine figure in this country women in inferior social roles. As indicated and the most appreciated woman by the by a recent “Report on gender barriers”37, media is Bianca Drăguşanu. Drăguşanu, who the general perception is that men are actually is not even a TV presenter, because supposed to be aggressive and assertive, that she is simply a backdrop anchor in a TV they are naturally dominant and creative as show where she poses half naked, is most opposed to women, who must be affectionate, often presented publicly as a sexual object gentle, charming and emotional. Another (in very scarcely dressed situations). More national research, published in 2011 by so, she is cast as a supporting figure for the ALTFEM (a national project designed to men who are really presenting that show, change the role of women in society) thus promoting a certain feminine ideal of monitored 91 TV shows, newspapers and the woman as “little nude helper” of men, magazines and has shown that men are without personality or intellectual value. predominantly represented as “professionals”, The following women in order of their while women are described as “domestic “popularity” also display worrisome traits, and private”. Most often the media in Ro- as is the case with the second most popular mania depicts women as “mothers and woman Romania, Monica Columbeanu. Co- housewives”, as “dependent on men”, while lumbeanu was a fashion model who came to men are occupying the “important” social the public with a media scandal, in which positions38. How is it possible to have such she was showcased as an illustration for the a widespread cultural acceptance for such “Cinderella syndrome”, since she married a discriminatory representations? man over 40 years older than her, a millionaire Many of the answers are well pointed who was her “protector” when she was just by the ALTFEM research, yet we need to 18 – later she divorced him and left their underline that an important source is the young girl with her former husband. Clearly generalized superficialization of women Columbeanu is a negative model, since she role models in the media. A research made gives the wrong impression to young wom- public in 2010 by Media IQ, a specialized en that they can reach an important social service of media monitoring, has shown that status not because of their qualities and there is a category of women which are professional qualifications, but by marrying most often “mediatized”, promoted and cul- rich men. tivated by the main information and enter- The third most known woman, Mihaela tainment outlets. This list is extremely Rădulescu, is another controversial figure, illustrative, since the “top 10” women who developed within the Romanian media. appear in the media are as follows: Bianca Although Rădulescu boasts with her bestsel- Drăguşanu, Monica Columbeanu, Paula ling books, one of them published under the Seling, Mihaela Rădulescu, Daniela Crudu, title: Why Do We Love Men – her success as

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… a “writer” is based on copycatting the most and, more relevantly “the 315 popular writer in Romania today, Mircea Romanian women have all Cărtărescu, who previously wrote a book that a man is searching when called Why Do We Love Women. Rădulescu’s choosing a wife”39. “Dr. Prem”, the self- “recipe” for media attention, just like for appointed specialist in global beauty, is not many other “popular” women, is to provok- actually evaluating women according to ingly use her sexuality. In a recent media their intrinsic qualities, but by referring to scandal (as seen in the photo) Rădulescu their “marriageability”. published on her Facebook page an image This stereotypes about Romania, that with her boyfriend, showing herself as a “we have the most beautiful women in the tabletop on which the man is eating his world”, besides the fact that is a common lunch. Consciously or unconsciously she bias of many nations (from the French to the was using mockingly one of the most famous Ukrainians), is a formula often used by the representations from feminist art, the Allen media and in the advertising industry. This Jones works featuring women as chairs and stereotype appears even in the most innocuous tables. Here Rădulescu is boasting her self- circumstances, and its most visible cultural submission, claiming indirectly that she is manifestation can be found in media rep- not a “feminist”, but rather a “normal” resentations today. woman (photo 6). From television shows to advertising we are witnessing a widespread public objectification of women, one extremely Our Women are Beautiful, overt and callous, manifested in all aspects a Negative Myth of Romanian visual culture. Just by taking a close look at the billboards of the advertising Such pre-established social roles, which campaigns, which are the most visible forms are very much similar to what we see in of contemporary public addressing, we ob- other patriarchal societies, are even more serve the signs of this inclination to bluntly depreciative in the Romanian public sphere present women as sexually available. because of the beauty standards and the Some of these messages might be – at cultural pressures of representations. Women a certain level – understandable, since they in Romania are compelled to comply with are directly targeting women and promote an illusory myth of beauty, since there is a specific products like underwear – although widespread bias that “our women” are better this is also deeply problematic. This is the that all the other women of the planet. This case with a huge public panel in which a is visible in media narratives and, as company like Carrefour is using the image indicated by a recent story, which is quoting of Gina Pistol, wearing the “recommended” proudly from a travel guide, the Romanian undergarments. Of course, Pistol, who reached press often releases news which supports her “celebrity” status after presenting one of the idea that we have the most beautiful the most sexist TV show in Romania, “We women in the world. Of course the author of are not blondes”, and was declared “the this particular “marrying travel guide”, a so- most beautiful blonde” in the Romanian called doctor Prem Jayasi, describes the “showbiz”, had several nude pictorials in women in Romania with a plethora of men’s magazines. When she is appearing prejudices. Romanian women are: “caring, almost naked on a huge billboard in the empathic, feminine, developing positive at- public space her public presence is not titudes and promoting traditional values” “innocent” and the connotations are obviously

Doru Pop 316 eroticized. Another celebrity Foundation, a nongovernmental organization which was used in the cam- that promotes women’s health. How is it paigns of this global retailer possible to promote social awareness by was – Jojo, an actress and a TV star who using media stereotyping fails to be clear, famously appeared naked in some recent since the health of women is also important movies. Once again, here almost naked is in terms of their psycho-cultural representa- used by Carrefour to promote their bathing tions, not only their physical integrity. suit, yet no wonder that a group of con- (Photo 10) Commendably, The National A- servatives in the county of Suceava gency for the Equality of Chances between protested against the exhibition of these ads, Men and Women demanded McCann Erick- calling them “street pornography” and son, the creator of the message, to cease and vandalized her images40. These representations desist any more displays of such sexist of women are not simply targeting a demo- materials by October 201541. graphic group, they are visual displays that If women appearing naked in huge exploit gratuitous sexualization (Photo 7). billboards can be seen an indicator of the More questionable are those situations noxious effect of the public sexualization, in which public displays of sexuality are used another harmful mechanism is the natural- to promote commodities and businesses that ization of sexual dominance from early ages. have nothing to do with women’s products. I chose two manifestations of this process One of the most relevant is the public campaign that are illustrative for the gratuitous objecti- of a national hardware stores, Dedeman, fication. In an extremely controversial video which gratuitously exploits the objectification advertisement, an ad created to promote a of women. In a series of ads various women classical biscuit – one of my own childhood are depicted in explicit sexual postures, while favorites – called “Eugenia”, the advertisers several handymen (a plumber, a gardener, a decided to present the product as highly bricklayer and so on) are doing various home desirable. Thus they decided to use in this improving activities. All this with the sexist spot, which was broadcast on national tele- slogan which goes like this: “Your wife also vision at almost every hour during the day, a has phantasies with a plumber (a gardener, a young girl and a young boy (not even 12 bricklayer and so on). Come to Dedeman and years old) who have a flirtatious interaction. you can fulfill them all”. (Photo 8) Once Made by Candiso Advertising Agency this again, women are presented in promiscuous material is not only depicting a very young postures and attitudes, while men are de- girl as sexually active (which is in and of scribed as hard working and victims of their itself bad), it also shows her in an inappro- predatorily behavior (Photo 9). priate relationship with the boys of her age, If the connection between a retailer and who wait for her to “reward” each and every the sexual satisfaction of women escapes one of them, if they can offer her the choc- logic, another ad displayed in the public olate cookie. Once more, the National Council space shows a woman’s cleavage, completely for Audiovisual (the national authority in disembodying her and refusing her identity, television broadcasting) prohibited in 2011 only to display on her chest the slogan: the showing of the ad, yet this unacceptable “They got you three marriage proposals, behavior, in which very young women are they deserve at least a test”. Before thinking presented as promiscuous and taught by that this is a promotional message for test example that accepting the dominant roles of drives, we realize that even public announce- males and their subservient roles is desirable ments financed on behalf of “Renaşterea” produced its effect. Such early sexualization

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… leads to late acceptance of domination and indicated by the frightening 317 the imagination mechanism used throughout statistics in Romania today, this process is the same – positioning men as which shockingly enough being “in charge”, representing masculinity show that over 700.000 women declare that in a domination stance, which helps con- they were sexually and verbally abused and vincing women that they are naturally humiliated, there are approximately 2,500 inferior and they need to cater to the desires rapes registered yearly. And of the 60,000 of the opposite sex (Photo 11). cases of abuse reported between 2004-2009, The last visual example for this normal- 778 resulted in the death of the victims. ization of subjugation and exploitation is The displays of sexual domination and provided by the book cover of a pseudo- the eroticization of the women’s bodies un- autobiographical fiction wrote by Dan Chişu, fortunately have extremely severe conse- a well-known movie director and screenwriter. quences, as the “innocent” nature of abusive His work entitled: Alone under the Shower42, discourses can no longer be justified when besides the sexually explicit content, in which the European surveys confirm a worrisome a movie director is describing his erotic reality: Romania leads in a negative compe- exploits, the cover shows a male lower body tition for the most abusive country on the part, with three different hands of women continent. The unofficial data provided by covering the genitalia from left, right and some Police officials and other public fig- bottom. Without discussing the tasteless ures are even more frightening, confirming the depiction of a man’s genitals, more important fact that in Romania a rape is registered is the inherent media stereotyping. Even every 10 hours (even if in the public data when presented naked, men are in control many go unknown)! There are counties in and women are ready to serve this dominant Romania where the registered the number of “master” of their desires (photo 12). rapes is even higher than the average, with Vaslui and Iaşi counties “leading” this hierarchy of domestic and gender-based A Culture Tolerating Violence abuse. against Women Even internal statistics of the national Police show that 45% of the women in This process of public and private Romania were verbally abused during their objectification is not simply an imagination lifetime and 30% of women in Romania game, an exercise in creativity. It reaches were physically abused during their lifetime, extremely dangerous levels when it comes 7% of women in Romania were sexually to real women, who are not only just abused during their lifetime and although representations of potential victims of male sexual harassment against women seems to abuse. It becomes a tragic social reality be very low, when it comes to abuse since when there are personal and physical cones- childhood an European wide qualitative quences of such an imaginary predisposition. research indicated that most of the abuses Things are no longer explainable “crea- are not reported in our since they are not tively” when the worse of this cultural considered to be “serious”. More so, 74% of predisposition is manifested as a widespread women have never heard of the existence of abuse of women. Two thirds of all the wom- public awareness campaigns, designed for en in Romania confirm that, at least once in protecting them against violence and have their lifetime, were subjected to a form of no knowledge of the state institutions created aggression, verbal, sexual or physical. As to protect them43. The circle of violence and

Doru Pop 318 abuse is sealed by the lack of young girl that they sequestered and as- information and protection. saulted was soon ostracized by their com- The cases of domestic abuse munity. The people of the village they all are also widespread, with 2/3 of women lived in actually supported the rapist boys declaring that they were coerced to sexual and almost the entire village accused the girl intercourse by their partners and 15% of for lewd behavior. Even more worrying, them were raped by their former friends or when it came to public support for the victim, acquaintances. We need to add here the shockingly enough a quarter of the Romani- widespread sexual trafficking, with only in ans, when asked who carried the responsibility the first semester of 2010 more than 100 for the rape, included the female victim as minor girls (14-17) were reported as traf- co-responsible46. Once more, if needed, this ficked for sex. clearly indicates a cultural predisposition for Unofficial data, like those provided by discrimination against women and even a Judge Cristi Danileţ, one of the members of general promotion of such behavior. the Supreme Council of Magistrates, who Seeing such cases we could be inclined acted like a whistleblower and published on to explain them as expressions of the dy- his personal webpage some frightening in- namics of a socially and economically formation, which were not available to the backward sub-culture. We could attribute public, show that of the 723 sexual crimes such behavior to marginal groups and committed in Romania between 2011 and disenfranchised individuals. Yet, according 2015, 87 were in Iaşi, 35 were in Bucharest to the data made public by the whistle- and 20 in Vaslui counties44. Reported to the blower organization, România curată (Clean total population of these regions the propor- Romania), the phenomenon of abuse and tions are horrendous, with Vaslui having sexual exploitation is extremely widespread 3.41 cases for 10.000 inhabitants. even in Romanian academia. Our Universities Regrettably, when dealing with these are plagued the same disease, as indicated unquestionable data, which are showing that by recently scandals, when young female there is a culture of physical violence pitted students were coming out publicly and were against women in Romania, in turn generated denouncing the fact they were sexually by a sub-culture of aggressive behavior and abused by their professors. In several aca- natural domination of men, there is no demic centers (from Cluj to Iasi), teachers qualitative consistence to the phenomenon. were exposed to have demanded sexual favors We do not have at this point coherent and for better grades. In an appalling case, one scientifically sound qualitative research to of the professors of the respected University show the complexity of the phenomenon. in Cluj, used his authority and social posi- Once again media example could pro- tion and transformed the academia into a vide a deeper insight into the horrific nature place for sexual abuse47. Many other cases of this brutality towards women. In 2015 were made public and they showed that one of the most cruel cases of rape in recent male teachers were demanding sexual favors times took place in the Vaslui County, when for promoting exams. The cycle of abuse seven young men (aged 18 to 27) kidnapped was practiced even in early school, as a very young school girl (barely 18 years indicated by many cases of sexual exploit- old) and raped her brutally for hours, humil- tation practiced by male teachers with their iating and abusing her in unimaginable sometimes minor students. ways45. What is even more shocking and Some relevant illustrations for the relevant for this discussion, is that the qualitative component of our discussion

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… come from cinematic representations, which trafficking and sexual exploi- 319 provide us with wide variety of contexts for tation of women. Deceived a wide variety of instances when violence by their male partners and against women is practiced as a “normal” ruthlessly exploited, many women are help- social behavior. As showcased by one the less victims of a macho and patriarchal most successful films made by recent Ro- society based upon gender discrimination. manian movies directors, 4 Months, 3 What can we make of this epidemic of Weeks and 2 Days by Cristian Mungiu, the aggression and brutality towards women in culture of rape and aggression towards our society today? We need to ask ourselves women is not a recent phenomenon in how is this possible? My argument here it Romanian society. The culture of physical that this is not only about public representa- abuse was a terrific reality even during the tions, it has more profound connections than communist regime. As the plot of the movie just political and media structures or images, it takes us into socialist Romania during the also has to do with the private models we as regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu, the director is social group consider acceptable. placing two young students in an atrocious context. Looking for an illicit abortionist, the man they pay to perform the illegal act The Collective Psyche and the Private ends up raping both of them and the two Normalizing of Abuse young women end up silently accepting their subservient position. Another powerful One explanation is the widespread ac- example can be found in a movie which, ceptance and even condescendence towards although not so famous internationally as the private and domestic abuse against the previous, offers the viewer a revelatory women. As indicated by a European survey depiction of the situations many women in of violence against women,48 Romania scores this country are trapped in. Ryna, by Ru- among the top countries (of 28) when it xandra Zenide, presents its viewers with a comes to physical and sexual violence per- veridic depiction of the way men handle petrated by present of former partners. Once women in small communities. What is trou- more, we can identify the manifestations of bling in Ryna is not just the brutality of the this mentality in several media contexts. A rape scene, in which the Mayor of a small recent example comes from a television village rapes a young girl, a teenager who show called “Un show păcătos”, which is has dreams of professional accomplishment highly controversial and in which the most as a photographer. Her life is crushed by the popular Romanian woman (Bianca Drăgu- brutal act, but more significantly the rape şanu) made her claim as eroticized celebrity. happens while her father with her in the car In one of these extremely vulgar and sexual- of the Mayor, and then later the same drunken ized TV shows, an ethno-pop singer, Nico- father and the authorities (including the lae Guţă, managed to get international Police) are trying to convince the girl not to attention when he physically assaulted his press charges. Once again, the same culture pregnant girlfriend on a live stage49. After of silencing the victims becomes apparent. pulling his partner’s hair and hitting her Last but not least is another relevant movie, while on stage at this live show, after swearing Loverboy, in which the director, Cătălin and cursing her on a direct TV, the two Mitulescu, describes the awful social and, claimed that it was a staged event. (Photo more importantly private mechanisms which 13) Even if this was the case or not, the make possible the flourishing of human simple fact that abusing a pregnant woman

Doru Pop 320 is considered as an acceptable over her lower body and an explicit hand situation for amusement is mark represented on her buttocks. In an an illustration of the mech- apparent sensual way, the logo says: “Where anisms described here. you hit, it grows”. Yet, if we take a closer Of course, as argued before, this is look, we observe that this woman has been only a case of socially marginal people, who slapped by a man – since the hand marks on display such behaviors because they are her body are large – and the combination of living in subgroups that are socially uned- objectification with violence becomes the ucated. Such behaviors are not defined by ingredient for public “stimulation”. Violence suburban or peripheral contexts. There are is presented as desirable, as provoking many other negative examples of such private pleasure and, even if it is made in a laugh- dynamics with people who are considered to able manner, we need to follow with an be “social models”, individuals extremely interpretation opening the understanding for popular in the mainstream media culture. As deeper meanings. We need to see here more it came out publicly after the breakup of a than just a funny message (“spend more famous couple, Ştefan Bănică Jr. and Andreea time in the kitchen”) is more than a promo- Marin, two of the most popular media tional for authentic “Romanian made” prod- figures in Romania, abuse and violence ucts. It has to do with the private acceptance represented a common domestic practice. of male brutality. (Photo 14) The slogan is Andreea Marin, who has been a very not just about playful “hitting”, it is double successful TV presenter at the National Tel- entendre – if the dough grows when roughing evision came out publicly and admitted that it, also the good relationship between males she was abused and beaten, even if not and females must be based on the acceptance sexually abused by her former husband, of violence. Male domination and brutality himself a famous actor, rock singer and TV are depicted as a form of rewarding women, star. Another recent scandal involving media as something that most women desire. celebrities shows a similar pattern. One of As a conclusion, I would argue that the pop singers, Alexandra Stan, who reached these representations of abuse against wom- international notoriety, was brutally beaten en, both in the public and the private space, by her boyfriend while driving and then she where women are most often distributed as was abandoned in the middle of a field. sexual objects, as always available for male Stan, who managed to sell millions of copies sexuality, and presented as being implicitly of her songs abroad, was disfigured by her submissive are integral elements of the own manager and then threatened with more patriarchal and macho-ist culture. By public violence if trying to sue him. and private distribution of women in such Again, the content of advertising might positions we are actually creating an envi- provide an explanation for such actions, ronment in which young girls and young since it offers a visible and direct example teenager women are taught to accept their for how the normalizing of abuse and even condition as objects. By being trained from how lightly gender violence and objecti- early ages to be sexually available and to fication is dealt with in our society. The first believe that their social success depends on example is a print ad, for the flower brand their ability to please men, women are cul- “Băneasa”, in which a scarcely clad woman turally domesticated while men are trained (wearing only an apron as indication of her to perceive women as different (read inferior). domestic nature) sits on a table top covered It is more than providing media roles that with cooking tools, with flour spread all women follow, it is a process of image and

Patriarchal Discourses and Anti-Feminine Attitudes… identity formation, which must be connected 321 to a deeply rooted stereotype in our collective psyche which provides the basis for discrimination on gender bases. This social Bucureşti: Institutului Cultural Român, model based on aggressive domination by 2006. men and the demise of women is constantly 9 Ion Mihai Pacepa. Red Horizons. The True reinforcing the dynamics of a patriarchal Story of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu’s society. And the vicious cycle of domination Crimes, Lifestyle and Corruption. Washington: cannot be interrupted as long as the super- Regnery Gateway, 1990, p. 62. ficialized and sexualized representations of 10 http://www.inscop.ro/iulie-2014-presedin- women, followed by public displays of tii-romaniei. disdain and even abuse towards any females 11 http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1137- that break this circle continue to be culti- 670-romanii-prefera-liderii-politici-puter- vated. Any changes in the collective psyche nici.htm. take place gradually and the condition of 12 Doru Pop. Alegerile naibii. Fals tratat women cannot be improved unless we despre metehnele imaginarului politic change the gender roles of women in Roma- autohton. Cluj: Indigo, 2007, p. 74 sq. nian society and the condition of women in 13 http://www.gandul.info/stiri/basescu-la-cro- our private lives. nica-carcotasilor-iliescu-mangafaua-geoana- catavencu-dar-cu-inteligenta-mai-putina-vezi- aici-cine-e-bibicu-si-cum-se-bea-whisky-fara- Notes sa-te-imbeti-5150658. 14 http://www.inscop.ro/decembrie-2014-can- 1 http://www.mmuncii.ro/pub/imagemanager/- didati-ipotetici-pcr-si-nicolae-ceausescu-pre- images/file/Domenii/Egalitate%20de%20sa sedintii-in-regimul-democratic-comunism-vs- nse/analiza%20statistica.pdf. democratie. 2 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/- 15 http://www.tvrplus.ro//editie-emisiunea- index.php/Gender_statistics. de-luni-425063. 3 Kate Millett. Sexual Politics. New York: 16 http://www.andreeavass.ro/blog/wp-content/- Doubleday, 1970. uploads/2011/10/Viziunea-pentru-reorganiza- 4 Friedrich Engels. Origin of the Family, rea-OFPDL-_-Andreea-Paul.pdf. Private Property, and the State. First edition, 17 Traian Basescu, interview with Mircea 1884. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/- Radu, “De ce iubim femeile” [Why Do We works/download/pdf/origin_family.pdf. Love Women], March 7, 2016, also available 5 Juliet Mitchell. Psychoanalysis and Femi- here: https://youtu.be/QvQXEPTn54M. nism: A Radical Reassesment of Freudian 18 http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-15029- Psychoanalysis. London: Allen Lane, 1974. 741-basescu-natalitatea-misiune-care-femeile- 6 Gerda Lerner. The Creation of Patriarchy. trebuie-asume-cum-dumnezeu-femeia-roma- Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986. poate-tine-cinci-sase-copii-iar-romanca-nu- 7 Matthew Guttman. The Meaning of Macho: poate.htm. Being a Man in Mexico City. Berkeley: 19 http://www.romanicriss.org/PDF/RCRISS- University of California Press, 1996. %20si%20CRJ%20-%2020.06.2013.pdf. 8 Doru Pop. “Macho (Ro)man(ia). Stereo- 20 http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-30178- tipii ale puterii în imaginarul romanesc post- 95-video-verdictul-iccj-cazul-tiganca-imputi- decembrist”, in T(z)ara noastră, stereotipii ta-gestul-lui-traian-basescu-este-discriminato- şi prejudecăţi, Ruxandra Cesereanu (ed.). riu-dar-nu-reprezinta-contraventie.htm.

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