WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES MANAGEMENT IN RURAL AREAS IN POLAND

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the scope and determinants of women participation in basic local authorities in rural areas in Poland. In the paper the detailed analysis on the problem were carried out on 5% of women and 5% of men headed rural gminas. The analysis showed that the women participation in top positions in governing bodies of local communities in Poland is low. It indicates the existence of the severe problem with women promotion to the top positions in decision bodies in politics. The luck of differences in women role betwee rural and urban communities is a very interesting result. Gminas managed by women are rather smaller than gminas administered by men. In many gminas the position of women at the village level is higher than at gmina level. The findings suggest the connection between activity of women at village level and women position as mayor. Moreover, the investigation showed that in rural gminas women prevail in important back-office positions like main secretary of the gmina office and chief aaccountant. So, women are familiar with their gminas problems, are involved in management of them but they don't apply for top positions. It seems that the concept of labyrinth can be applicable to the situation of women in decision making bodies in rural areas in Poland.