The Position of Women in Czech Economy and Society : Past, Present, Future

1. The Position of Women in Czech Economy and Society : Past, Present, Future

2. Structure of the lecture • Czech women at the dawn of history • The beginnings of feminism movement - • the “National Revival“ • Voting rights • Women in the communist society • Czech women at present • Legal position • In economy : jobs, wages, employment • In politics (high and lower) • In civil society • Czech feminism • Conclusions

3. Czech women at the dawn of history It is supposed, that the ancient ( rather mythical ) Czech women were rather feminists. For example the princess Libuše, the supposed founder of the city of Prague and the whole Přemyslid dynasty…. By legend, there was even a women war ( so-called “Girls’ War” ) later on, led by the famous Vlasta.

4. As a matter of fact, our great-great-great…grandfathers and grandmothers really mighthave lived in matriarchate, but is is long ago... The Věstonice Venus

5. The beginnings of feminism movement - the “Czech National Revival“-XIX.century • Women rights combined with the national rights • Education “clubs” for girls • Education Institution for Girls in 1843 • American Club of Ladies of Vojta Náprstek and Karolina Světlá in 1865 • Czech Women Production Association in 1871 • The Minerva gymnasium for girls in 1890 (first in Austria-Hungaria) • Women writers (Božena Němcová)

6. THE AMERICAN CLUB OF LADIES On January 5, 1865, the first women society was founded in the Czech countries from the initiative of Vojta Náprstek - the American Club of Ladies. It served for more than 200 women and girls to acquire some learning, and the lectures organised by Náprstek substituted the secondary and professional schools, which did not exist for girls at that time. The club also organised trips and charities and persevered in these activities till 1948, when it was officially abolished and forbidden. The Club was re-established in February 1996 as a civil society and organises for its members once a month lectures, theatre, exhibitions, concerts etc.

7. American Club of Ladies, 1872

8. Voting right for women Up to the beginning of 20th century, voting right was very limited even for men in the Czech part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. After fights and demonstrations, the emperor Franz Josef I. granted common and equal voting right to all men over 24, on January 16, 1904 . Women were excluded, however. Their situation was changed not sooner than in 1919, in the new independent Czechoslovakia.

9. Before 1900, women obtained the vote in only one nation -New Zealand 1906 - Women granted the right to vote in Finland 1913 - Equal voting rights achieved by women in Norway 1917 - Women obtained the vote in the Netherlands and Russia 1918 - Women over 30 get to vote and sit in Parliament in the United Kingdom 1919 - Germany, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia gave women the vote 1931 - Women get the vote in Spain 1932 - Brazil granted suffrage to women 1934 - Turkish women may vote in national elections

10. 1941 - Suffrage in Indonesia 1945 - France,Italy, Japan, Vietnam extended the vote to women. 1948 - With formation of the state, women received full suffrage in Israel. late 1950s - The transfer from colonial to national rule creates new constitutions that give women the right to vote in many countries. 1953 - Mexican women won the right to vote. 1961 - Paraguay granted voting rights to women. Women can now vote throughout Latin America. 1963 - Women's suffrage granted in Iran. 1966 - Jordan adds women's vote to its constitution. 1971 - Switzerland finally gives in.

11. Women did not gain that right until 1952 in Greece, 1961 in El Salvador, 1974 in Jordan. For example in some of the U.S. states ( for example Arizona), only in 1988 did voters there remove a state requirement that their officeholders be male The right to be elected is a second step

12. First Czech woman was elected into the A.-H. parliament in 1912 - Božena Viková Journal „Kopřivy“, June 1912. Kramář to Mrs. Viková: “ Dear madam colleague! On behalf of the whole Národní strana svobodomyslná, please accept our warmest congratulations to your election as a country deputy." Deputies from Mladá Boleslav in the background: “But if devil took the hag, we would pay for a holly mass ! "

13. Pre-war Czechoslovakia • The Club of Czech Women established in 1902 • National Board of Czechoslovak Women founded in 1923 • Family Act from 1949 - one of the most modern in Europe, among other abolished the institute of the “head of the family“, which was always a man,and legalised equality of spouses in marriage

14. Pre-war Czechoslovakia Among these women, an outstanding personality was JUDr. Milada Horáková, One of the authors of the Family Act, Member of Parliament and chairwoman of the National Board of Czechoslovak Women

15. In 1950, she was accused, together with other outstanding personalities opposing communism, of treason, sentenced to death and executed on June 27, 1950

16. Women in communism • Theoretically : • equal rights and equal opportunities • high employment level • extensive child-care • extensive social support • Practically: • compelled to work • less political pressure in lower positions • collective education preferred by state • exemplary “heroines of socialist labour“ • Czechoslovak Women Union and 1-2 women ministers of government

17. In the 2nd half of the 20ieth century, the slogan has changed Equal rights had been more or less established, now the top topic is “Equal Opportunities“

18. At present in the CR • Regarding the basic legal position, women have the same rights as men • However, because there are recognisable traits of discrimination, namely with regard to the economic position and job opportunities, new legal acts were passed during the last years preventing any discrimination (Labour Code amended) • For example, it is not possible any more to advertise ( with some exceptions) a “man only“ jobs etc.

19. At present in the CR • In 2002, the Government Committee for Equal Opportunities was established, the members of which are representatives of all Czech ministries, but also of women NGOs • All Czech ministries have an obligation to have at least one person working on gender issues • Recently, Czech government has passed a decree on the implementation of “gender mainstreaming” and “gender budgeting”

20. Let’s look at the reality regarding • economy • family • politics at all levels • universities • army • churches • women organisations • society in general

21. Women in economy

23. Average gross monthly wage according branches of economy 2006, 000 CZK women men A-B- agriculture,C-E -industry, F -constructions, G -trade, repairs, H- catering, I- transport, communications, J- banking, K- real estate, research, L- public administration, defence, M -education, N- health, social services, O- other services

24. Why are women less paid ? • Are they really less flexible ? • Are they less dedicated ? • Are they less educated ? • Or what ?

25. Average gross monthly wage according age category, 2006, 000 CZK women men

26. Average gross monthly wage according to education level 2006, 000 CZK women men secondary full MSc. primary secondary lower Bc. not stated Total

27. Education level according to age structure, 2006, in % men women not known university secondary higher secondary full professional primary

28. Average gross monthly wage according to job category, 2006 000 CZK women men 1 - legislators, senior officers, managers 2-professionals 3-technicians 4-clerks 5 -services, shop-assistants 6- skilled agriculture 7-craft, trades 8- Machine operators 9- non-qualified jobs

29. Development of unemployment, 000 persons, 1993-2002 total-men total-women longterm-men longterm-women young-men young-women

30. Harmonising job and family • The problem lays in free choice for women, for which the following is missing: • part-time jobs • flexible working hours, work from home • “Family Competencies“ • “Family-friendly companies“ • accessible services (household services, child care) • higher activity of TU towards observing the Labour Code in practice • higher prestige of family in society

31. Women in politics

32. The present parliament 16% Only 32 women from 200 MPs

33. 14.5% 9.9% 10.8% 15.4% 30.8% 50%

34. Share of women in world parliaments http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/indwm/tab6a.htm

35. Czech governments1998-20022002 – 20042004-2005

36. Government 2005-2006 Dana Bérová (Informatics), (Milada Emmerová - Health), Petra Buzková (Education, Youth, Sports)

37. The 2007 goverment Vlasta Parkanová (Defence), Dana Kuchtová (Education, replaced), Džamila Stehlíková, Helena Třeštíková (Culture, resigned)

38. The 2008- April 2009 goverment Vlasta Parkanová (Defence), Džamila Stehlíková (Human Rights and Minorities)

39. Ing. Jan Fischer,prime-minister May 2009 – July 2010

40. RNDR. Petr Nečas, prime-minister New Czechgovernment 2010 Do youseeanywomen in that?

41. The official explanation is that • The newly elected chair of the MP chamber of the Parliament and 3 out of 4 vice-chairs are now women • Because of that, the governmental parties had no more outstanding women available for the government

42. Women and men in decision-making, 2009, in % Mayor of Prague, regional governors Senators (Lower Chamber) CNB board members Constitutional Court judges Ministers of government MPs (Upper Chamber) Vice-ministers Regional Offices directors Highest Control Office board Supreme Court judges women men

43. Women and men in “influential positions“, 2009, in % Police Regional deputies Sectoral institutions directors SDP(ČSSD) members Ministry sections directors Local deputies CiDeP (ODS) members CzCoP (KSČM) members Ministry departments heads Journalists ChDP (KDU-ČSL) members Judges (excl.SC and CC) men women

44. As a matter of fact, there even were two female candidates in the last but one presidential elections (for the first time in our history) and also one in the last one, but they were not successful…. Helena Illnerová, then Chair of CAS Jaroslava Moserová, MP, writer Jana Bobošíková, journalist

45. From 63 politicalpartiesandmovementsofficialyregistered in the CR, only 6 are at present chaired by women: • Christian Democratic Union- CzechPeople’s Party • Politicians 21 • Democratic Green Party • European Democrats’ Party • Workers’ Social Party • National Party

46. And two political parties even have a women platform • Christian Democratic Union- CzechPeople’s Party • Social Democratic Party The Communist Party organises the so-called Left Women Clubs, which are, however, not a part of the party structure

47. Left Women Club Bohuslavice

48. What is very important, is the growing participation of women at the lower level of decision-making including communal level

49. Czech universities used to be rather progressive ! From 33 public universities, 1 military university and 1 police academy in the CR, there is at present only 1 woman in the position of the rector Doc.Ing Iva Ritschelová UJEP Ústí nad Labem 2.8%

50. … and from 55 private colleges and universities, Dr.B.Šenkýřová • 6 are at present • led bywomen, • University of Finances and Administration Prague • Private College of Economic Studies Prague • AKCENT College Prague • University of Tourism, Hotels and Spa Prague • Bank Institute Prague • International Prague University Prof.PhDr. A. Macurová Doc.Ing.V.Seifertová