Women in rural areas are particularly susceptible to socio-cultural barriers that hold them back from political participation and economic opportunities. Yet, some female role-models in small communities manage to lead the way and hold positions many Georgians still consider for men only. Take Samegrelo. One of Georgia’s largest region in the west of the country, it is home to a large internally displaced persons’ community resulting from the war in the neighbouring region of Abkhazia in the early 1990s. Here a few women are pushing the boundaries and redefining traditional gender roles.
authors
Salome Kobalava
Salome is a contributing writer based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her professional experience spans several years in communication, public relations and reporting. She holds master’s degree in Media and Communication Studies from Lund University, Sweden. Her special focus of interest is gender politics.
Author's stories
Women in Rural Georgia: Meet Three Game Changers
The Gori day center is the only senior citizen facility of its kind in Shida Kartli. The repercussions of the war are still reverberating in the lives of those it affected, particularly those who were forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting. The impact of the war has disproportionately hit the elderly, especially women, many of whom are facing their twilight years alone and in poverty. Makvala Chighladze, 68, was one of the many forced to flee the city ten years ago when it came under Russian attack. Chighladze and her family narrowly escaped the Russian troops when they fled to Tbilisi.