According to data from the Partnership for Development Center (CPD), public perceptions of women’s role in society have deteriorated significantly. While in 2021, 18.2% of citizens considered politics a domain exclusively for men, by 2025 this proportion had risen to 26.2%. Gender stereotypes have similarly increased: 62.4% of respondents now believe that “a woman’s pathway is family and household,” compared to 47.9% four years ago.

These key findings are highlighted in the report ”Representation, power, and gender inequalities in the 2025 parliamentary elections”, produced by CPD with the support of UNDP Moldova, in partnership with UN Women Moldova and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark. The study examines how social attitudes and stereotypes shape women’s real opportunities to access elective office and be accepted by voters as legitimate leaders.

Key findings:

• Local and global crises (energy crisis, pandemic, security crises, and inflation) have been collectively associated with political leaders in office, many of whom are women, disproportionately affecting perceptions of women’s competence.
• Voters continue to favor a conservative profile. A legitimate parliamentarian is perceived as a man (22.3% vs. 6.1% for women), religious (53.6%), married (44.2%), and with children (47.9%).
• A concerning trend is the increase of gender stereotypes among young people aged 18-29, rising from 27.6% in 2021 to 37.6% in 2025.
• Rising hate speech and sexist attacks in media and on social networks discourage active women’s participation in politics.

The report emphasizes that these perceptions reduce women’s real chances of accessing elective positions. Preferences for the positions of president (31.7% men vs. 3.3% women) or Member of Parliament (23.2% men vs. 3.2% women) demonstrate that the electorate continues to “reserve” women for roles perceived as closer to family and community.

Based on these realities, the report proposes five main directions to address these systemic imbalances:

• Strengthening the dual quota system – to ensure a shift from numerical representation to meaningful and influential participation of women on candidate lists.
• Challenging stereotypes – removing attitudinal barriers that undermine equal participation through information campaigns and education.
• Supporting women in public office – measures aimed at reducing resource gaps and creating a conducive environment for women leaders to thrive.
• Holding political parties accountable – rigorous integration of gender equality in internal policies and public commitment to clear objectives.
• Increasing visibility in the media – ensuring balanced and non-discriminatory coverage of women’s role in politics throughout the campaign.

This product was developed within the project “Strengthening democratic resilience in Moldova,” implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with UN Women Moldova, and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark.