MATERINSTVO I MIR U ČASOPISU ŽENSKI POKRET (1920–1938)
Motherhood and Peace in the Women’s Movement Journal (1920–1938)

Summary/Abstract: Between the two world wars, women associated with the Society for Women’s Emancipation and Protection of Their Rights (later the Alliance of Women’s Movements) actively participated in pacifist organisations such as The League of Nations, The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and The Little Entente of Women. Pacifism was one of the most critical topics in the Women’s Movement journal (1920–1938), Society’s herald, especially since the end of the 1920s when it was gradually becoming clear that the world was heading for a new war. The journal was following and reporting on activities and achievements of pacifist organisations. Pacifism was generally perceived as an “innate” field of women’s activism In the Women’s Movement journal. If women got the right to vote, feminists thought, there would be no more wars because women would always vote for politics of peace. The claim that women were against war was usually based on female attributes traditionally related to maternity, such as care, empathy, patience, and nonviolence. This paper focuses on views expressed in the journal about mothers’ role in building a non-conflict society and preserving world peace. Mothers were seen as educators of future generations who rebuild nations. Since they lost husbands and sons in wars, they were expected to oppose it. Although less often, such points of view are problematized in the journal, the paper will also discuss that.

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