Gender roles in Eastern Europe after Communism
Encyclopedia
Changes in gender roles in Eastern Europe after Communism
were not immediately apparent, but during the following twenty years it became increasingly obvious that there were fundamental shifts gender relations. A key instance of this shift was the enormous increase in pornography
(incomparable in scale to the Western world) plus the rise of the music industry close to pornography.
In Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary, and other under Communist government, men and women normally both worked outside the home (as is still the most common situation in the C.I.S.). However, in the post-communist market, Balkan and Czech women were encouraged to take a role closer to that of traditional pre-World War II
women in their countries, which has become a common expectation of them.
The general effect was to place more stress on the husband to be the breadwinner of the family, even when it was difficult for him to find a job. Although in Bulgaria it is very common the wife or woman in a family to bring money, which the husband then plays on poker
(the new great industry in Balkans
), uses for own purposes and etc., paradoxically without changing his own status of "breadwinner". If the man could not find a job but the woman could, suddenly men realized they were not playing their new gender role
"correctly". Conversely, some men began to gain wealth in the new market, which dramatically changed their relationships as well. A survey conducted with women in Hungary
, Serbia
, the Republic of Macedonia
, and Bulgaria
showed that 53% of these women said their relationships had become worse post-communism. Moreover, 78% admitted to also knowing other families whose marital relationships became worse (Nickolic-Ristanovic, 2002).
In 2011 RTV Slovenija
documentary film, the role of women from ex Soviet states is compared to that before the fall of communism, and the conclusion is clear, after the fall of communism, women have smaller chances on the market.
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
were not immediately apparent, but during the following twenty years it became increasingly obvious that there were fundamental shifts gender relations. A key instance of this shift was the enormous increase in pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
(incomparable in scale to the Western world) plus the rise of the music industry close to pornography.
In Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary, and other under Communist government, men and women normally both worked outside the home (as is still the most common situation in the C.I.S.). However, in the post-communist market, Balkan and Czech women were encouraged to take a role closer to that of traditional pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
women in their countries, which has become a common expectation of them.
The general effect was to place more stress on the husband to be the breadwinner of the family, even when it was difficult for him to find a job. Although in Bulgaria it is very common the wife or woman in a family to bring money, which the husband then plays on poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
(the new great industry in Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
), uses for own purposes and etc., paradoxically without changing his own status of "breadwinner". If the man could not find a job but the woman could, suddenly men realized they were not playing their new gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
"correctly". Conversely, some men began to gain wealth in the new market, which dramatically changed their relationships as well. A survey conducted with women in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
showed that 53% of these women said their relationships had become worse post-communism. Moreover, 78% admitted to also knowing other families whose marital relationships became worse (Nickolic-Ristanovic, 2002).
In 2011 RTV Slovenija
Radiotelevizija Slovenija
Radiotelevizija Slovenija – usually abbreviated to RTV Slovenija – is Slovenia's national public broadcasting organization. Based in the country's capital, Ljubljana, it has regional broadcasting centres in Koper and Maribor and correspondents around Slovenia, Europe and the world...
documentary film, the role of women from ex Soviet states is compared to that before the fall of communism, and the conclusion is clear, after the fall of communism, women have smaller chances on the market.