Women in post-feminism in the past Femininity Part II

Women in post-feminism in the past Femininity Part II Donna has been the resurgence of nostalgic nationalism, neo traditionalism and religious renewal - the social forces that have called for at home, hearth, spouse and children and to "free" from "forced labor" of communism. Negative demographic trends (declining life expectancy and birth rate, numerous abortions, late marriage, high divorce rate, increasing suicide rate) conspired to "We are a dying nation" outcry and the inevitable re-emphasis of women's reproductive functions. Fierce debates about the morality of abortion occurred in bastions of Catholic fundamentalism (such as Poland and, to a lesser extent, Lithuania) as well as in citadels of rational agnosticism, such as the Czech Republic Curiously, prostitution and trafficking were considered unavoidable. Perhaps because it catered to masculine needs. Indeed, in Lore and feminist theory, nationalism and capitalism "patriarchal." Nationalism and offers a variety of roles are mutually exclusive for men and women. The latter should be housewives and children. Capitalism encourages the formation of impregnable male elites, the spread of new technologies, especially male monopolies, eliminates humble and low skilled (women) of employment and provides a focus on male characteristics, such as aggression and competitiveness. No wonder that the political representation of women in parliaments and govements diminished dramatically since 1989. When the power, communism, CEE parliaments stacked with women. Now that I'm more of the elected bodies, have almost nothing to see. The few that infiltrated these August institutions are too "soft" committees (social issues, usually) not budgets and influence. It 'very similar under communism when the decision by the layers are predominantly male. The only influential women then were dissidents, but seem to have rejected the results of their work, democracy, peace and peace of mind - or have been abused by a plant emerging male. Despite training in economics, they are underrepresented among the managers, owners of privatized enterprises and the beneficiaries to pay the positive regulatory and fiscal. This erosion of their economic base in connection with the sharp decline in services for children, for the length of the mother, the number of public and childcare facilities at affordable prices and other networks have led to a rapid deterioration social situation and the influence of women. With their only effective contraceptive - abortion - restricted, mateal mortality exploded. For example, teenage pregnancy - a consequence of the restriction or lack of sex education. The percentage of sexually transmitted diseases went through the roof. Violence against women - rape, abuse of marriage, date rape - has been the epidemic. Thus, skyrocketing street prostitution. Widowed women - an increasingly common phenomenon in CEE - are poor and begging as the pensions of the lucky are ground zero with an increase in the cost of living and IMF prodded stinginess. There are also many other daily problems (often neglected by the media hungry and wants Soundbite feminists) like pitiful divorce maintenance payments decrepit mateity wards in crumbling hospitals. But women responding to all this was mostly in his absence. After decades of activism and forced altruism, the imported Weste individualism mutated in CEE to malignant egotism. A tape of the female population also has the local govement and as entrepreneurs. The rest (especially the old, rural, less educated) stayed at home and seemed to fancy this novel experience of dependence. A generation gap emerged. Younger women discovered the joys of conspicuous consumption stunning and spirit pop "culture." They constituted the masses of career opportunists, the new managerial class, shareholders and professionals - a pale imitation of the yuppies of America. Older women - throw line a sigh of relief - into home and family, seeking protection against the penetration of long public affairs. Economic realities still forced to look for a stable work and income (often in a household or the informal economy, lack of job security or regulated working conditions - conditions) but their activism vanished into newfound and demonstrative reclusiveness. But even the young entrepreneurs often fare badly. There is a lack of companies to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, support or infrastructure for access to credit. Older women who can not work long hours, lack skills and, when officially employed are expensive, because the burden of social benefits still effective. Thus, women can be, especially in services, light industry and agriculture - the most non lucrative sectors of the dilapidated economies of Central and Easte Europe. And speaking of social benefits not yet cut - the quality has deteriorated, access has been restricted and supplies are often short. The costs of public goods (mainly health and education) were from the State to households officially (a result of the marketing of services) or surreptitiously and insidiously (eg, patients must purchase their own food, bedding and medicines hospital). To blame it all on a botched transition is now in fashion. However, many of the problems that beset the unfortunate women of CEE were evident as early 30 years ago. The feminization of poverty is not a new phenomenon, nor is the feminization of certain professions and the consequent decline in their status and their pay. Under communism, women who are exhausted and guilt-ridden as they feel today. They were considered unreliable workers (which they were, what with a lifetime average of 10 abortions and 2 children). Their offspring suffered an alienated childhood in the face of brutal gulag and kindergartens maintained by indifferent bureaucrats. Juvenile delinquency, a high divorce rate, single motherhood and parasitic fathers were all under a displacement of the ideological carpet by communism. Moreover, communism is the only result - the inclusionary workers - has been developed a craft illusion for consumption by wide eyes Weste intellectuals. In agrarian societies which preceded communism, women worked no less. And women were not allowed to work or night shifts or in certain jobs, nor have been paid as much as men for equal work. Job advertising sexist gender and this day (in stark violation of constitutional dead letter). Discarding the baby with the bath was losing a characteristic of transition. Communism has done a lot for women (one of its very rare achievements). Some of these foundations were sound and durable and have been preserved a. But the apathy of women and the zeal of power hungry men converged to produce an old new world: the Patriarchal, discriminatory and outrageous. The day of CEE feminism come. But first, CEE has resulted in more to the west.