What Does It Mean to Be a Politically Active Woman or LGBTI+ Person Today?

For many people, political activity is still associated exclusively with political parties, election campaigns, and formal positions of power. Politics is often perceived as something distant, rigid, and reserved for a narrow circle of people who already hold influence. However, for women and LGBTI+ people—especially those living in rural and smaller communities—political engagement today has a much broader and more complex meaning.

In contexts where social norms are strictly enforced, resources are limited, and visibility can have very real consequences, political activity is not confined to institutions alone. It is reflected in everyday decisions, public presence, and the courage to speak, act, and exist openly within one’s own community. In this sense, political engagement begins long before elections, mandates, or party membership. It begins at the moment when silence is broken.

When Visibility Becomes a Political Act

For many women and LGBTI+ people, entering the public sphere is not a neutral act. Publicly expressing opinions, participating in discussions, initiating community actions, or running for political office often involves significant risk—particularly in rural environments where social relations are closely intertwined and privacy is limited.

In such contexts, visibility itself becomes a political act. Participants spoke about fear of reactions from their surroundings, families, and the wider community, and about the pressure embodied in phrases such as “what will the village say,” “this is not for you,” or “don’t expose yourself.” They especially emphasized that women who become politically active—particularly those who run for prominent positions—are frequently discredited based on their past, private lives, or appearance. Instead of discussing their ideas and programs, attention is redirected to who they were, what they did, whether they are “proper enough,” or to explicit claims that women do not belong in politics, but rather in predefined traditional roles.

In addition, participants described experiences of being attacked based on appearance, intelligence, or presumed incompetence, which further discourages women from engaging in political life. These patterns demonstrate that political engagement often carries a much higher personal cost for women than for their male counterparts, as both their competence and their legitimacy to be present in public space are questioned simultaneously.

As a result, many women and LGBTI+ people learn early on that invisibility can function as a survival strategy. Withdrawal, silence, and avoidance of public engagement often feel safer than entering a space where not only opinions, but also identity and dignity are scrutinized. Political passivity, therefore, is often not a sign of disinterest, but the outcome of long-term adaptation to restrictive social norms.

Political Activism Beyond Institutions

One of the key shifts that occurs through political education and collective learning is the realization that political activism does not begin or end with formal positions. It can take many forms: initiating a local initiative, advocating for better public services, organizing neighbors around a shared concern, participating in public consultations, or demanding accountability from local authorities.

During educational modules, participants frequently noted that they had only then realized they had already been politically active in the past, even though they had never labeled their actions as such. Caring about community issues, responding to injustice, supporting others, initiating dialogue, or connecting people around a shared goal—all of these are forms of political engagement that had previously gone unrecognized or undervalued. This realization allowed participants to view their own experiences as relevant and meaningful, rather than insufficient or insignificant.

In rural contexts, where formal political channels often feel closed or inaccessible, these forms of engagement are often the most realistic and effective entry points into political life. They enable gradual confidence-building, skill development, and the initiation of change at a level that feels tangible and achievable.

The Unequal Cost of Political Engagement

Political participation does not carry the same consequences for everyone. Women and LGBTI+ people often pay a higher personal price when they enter public or political spaces. Their engagement is more frequently evaluated through the lens of gender norms, morality, appearance, or identity, rather than through the substance and value of their ideas.

Women who speak assertively may be labeled as “inappropriate” or “aggressive,” while LGBTI+ people are often reduced solely to their identity instead of being recognized as political actors. Rather than engaging with arguments, attention shifts to questions of legitimacy: who are you to speak, why are you visible, and why are you challenging the established order?

These double standards further discourage political participation and reinforce the belief that political space is hostile or unsafe. Over time, this leads to self-censorship and withdrawal from public life, deepening existing inequalities.

From Individual Courage to Collective Strength

Although political engagement often begins as an individual decision, its sustainability largely depends on collective support. Isolation increases vulnerability, while connection creates resilience. This is why participants in the Academy particularly emphasized the importance of spaces where they felt safe, accepted, and supported.

Many participants noted that they arrived at the Academy without clear expectations, yet quickly developed a strong sense of belonging and mutual trust. The atmosphere they described as “family-like” enabled them to speak openly, share doubts and fears, and encourage one another. Realizing that they were not alone—that other women and LGBTI+ people shared similar experiences and challenges—proved crucial to their sense of empowerment.

The shift from “I am alone” to “we are not alone” represents a significant turning point. Political engagement is no longer experienced as an isolated act of courage, but as a collective process grounded in solidarity, support, and shared learning.

Political Activity as a Process, Not a Title

It is also important to redefine the expectation that political engagement must be constant, formal, and highly visible in order to be legitimate. In reality, political activity often unfolds in phases. There are periods of public action, as well as moments of withdrawal, intense engagement, and necessary rest and reflection.

Viewing political activity as a process rather than a fixed role allows individuals to participate in ways that are sustainable. This reduces pressure, prevents burnout, and acknowledges that caring for oneself and others is also a political act.

Toward a Broader Understanding of Political Participation

Being a politically active woman or LGBTI+ person today—especially in a rural context—means navigating a complex space of opportunities and risks. It involves redefining politics beyond institutions, recognizing everyday actions as political, and accepting that engagement can take many different forms.

Political activity should not be a privilege reserved for a few, but a fundamental component of democratic society. When women and LGBTI+ people are excluded—formally or informally—entire communities lose valuable knowledge, perspectives, and potential leadership.

This transformation does not happen overnight, but it represents a crucial step toward more inclusive and resilient local democracies—where political participation is not determined by who already holds power, but by who dares to engage.

This activity was supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives through the project “Building Political Power in the Margins: Strengthening Civic Participation of Rural Women and LGBTI+ People in Tuzla Canton through Education, Skills Training, and Community-Based Advocacy.” We are grateful to Canada for its contribution to this project through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.