Personal Experience
Personal experience
My name is Anila, and about a year ago, I graduated with a law degree. I have always dreamed of becoming a lawyer, not only because of my personal inclination but also because of the painful situations life has placed before me. My journey began as a challenge to my father, who never truly believed I could make it. I must acknowledge that he always let me make my own choices, but I suspect he did so only to relish the moment I would fail. Fortunately, I have never given him that satisfaction. I have never had a good relationship with him. Since I was little, he used to beat my mother, and if today I have successfully completed my studies, it is thanks, above all, to her. She never doubted my abilities; on the contrary, she always encouraged me to hunger for freedom and independence so that no man would ever see me as his property. Unfortunately, my mother never had the opportunity to study. She married at the age of twenty, hoping to escape her family’s poverty, but she paid a heavy price for financial security, trading it for her physical and mental well-being. I grew up watching her endure the worst humiliations, vowing that one day, when I had a job of my own, I would take her away with me. Now, I feel so close to that great goal. If I successfully complete my internship at the prestigious law firm where I am currently working, there is a good chance I will be offered a permanent position. My boss seems enthusiastic about my work, although at times, I receive attention from him that I find inappropriate. It also irritates me that my male colleagues(kolligs) are given more complex assignments than my female colleagues and me. Clients, too, often seem skeptical of our presence, doubting our work before even giving us a chance—but that is normal for any Albanian woman who dares to take on a challenging profession. Despite everything, I dream of becoming a family lawyer. No matter how difficult the road may be, I will keep pushing forward because I no longer want to see my mother’s face bruised or her eyes filled with fear. I refuse to accept a world where it is normal for a woman to believe she belongs to someone else.
General situation
In Albania, according to the Constitution, women should theoretically enjoy the same legal status as men. Moreover, the Constitution aims to protect against legal discrimination based on gender.
Gender gap in managerial positions / legal discrimination in labor rights
However, Albanian women face significant challenges in the workforce, experiencing discouraging occupational segregation. Although INSTAT data shows that only 18.2% of men in Albania hold a university degree compared to 21.6% of women, females remain underrepresented in leadership positions and high-responsibility professions such as law or medicine. Moreover, salaries are lower for women, who earn approximately 10.7% less than their male colleagues, and in some cases, they are even subjected to requests for sexual favors from their employers.
Perception that the husband is justified in beating his wife / social discrimination in divorce
The issue of violence against women is also alarming. A 2020 OECD study involving a sample of 1,858 women aged 18 to 74 revealed that 22% had experienced physical or sexual violence, 53% had suffered some form of domestic violence—whether psychological, sexual, verbal, or economic and 34% had been sexually harassed. However, only 3% of women reported these incidents, and divorces remain rare. This is largely due to the fear of social stigma, as the prevailing mentality still perceives men as the de facto heads of households and inherently superior to women, whose primary duty is obedience—even when they disagree. Unsurprisingly, many women, especially in rural areas, still believe this way of thinking is correct. Social stigma is further compounded by economic concerns, as many women are unemployed, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, or earn such low wages that they cannot afford the legal process of divorce, let alone sustain themselves independently or secure an adequate pension for old age. Institutional shortcomings also play a significant role. Many women lack trust in public institutions, which are often unequipped to handle reported cases of violence, adopting a disorganized approach that leaves victims feeling lost and unsupported.
Feeling of insecurity at night
Authorities also show little concern for situations that can cause distress and potentially escalate. Due to a deeply rooted mentality that objectifies women, they often remain indifferent to cases of stalking or harassment that women experience while walking down the street. Responding to such provocations is not considered an option for women, as doing so would result in insults and accusations, branding them as immoral or inappropriate.