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The patriarchal system breeds domestic violence, and hinders women from accessing higher education and gaining meaningful employment, reads Suzanne Rothman’s article published in Registan.Net.

According to Sabina (surname is not indicated), a Project Management Assistant at the Women’s Association for Rational Development (WARD), today the most dangerous problem in Azerbaijan is the violence and forced marriage.

Many women do not realize they are abuse victims or do not define their male relatives’ behavior as abuse. Women in Azerbaijan grow up in a male-dominated society and that is why they don’t recognize these behaviors as problematic, they just don’t know any better.

“The women in Azerbaijan face deep-seated, negative stereotypes. The negative stereotypes- women are less smart than men, weak, and bad decision-makers- stifle their ability to participate in politics or important social movements. Additionally, women do not have equal access to education and career development,” Sabrina said.

According to her the women either don’t access higher education or don’t focus on professional development, they remain dependent on their families and husbands throughout their lives.

“It inhibits women from critical thinking and community involvement,” the employee of the organization noted.