DEMOCRATIZATION AND WOMENS ACCESS TO LEGISLATIVE SEATS - THE SOVIET CASE, 1989-1991

This paper explores the reasons underlying the sharp downturn in women 's representation in soviets (legislatures) at the all-union, union re public, and local level, during the reform process associated with per estroika. With the introduction of competitive electrons in the USSR i n 1989-90, a number of forces adverse to women's chances to secure man dates as deputies came into play. These included electoral mechanics u nfavorable to women's candidacies and public attitudes that favored ma le candidates and attached a low priority to ''women's issues.'' Ironi cally, democratization has been accompanied by the exit of women from the newly revamped legislatures, a result that has led some women acti vists to voice fears concerning the virtual exclusion of women from de cision-making in the newly emerging countries of the former Soviet blo c.