Privatni i javni patrijarhat
Private and Public Patriarchy

Social Position and the Role of women during the Socialist Period in Yugoslavia

Summary/Abstract: This paper represents a social analysis of the social role and position of women in Yugoslavia in the period 1945–1990 in the context of (changes in) global society, and/or the level of its patriarchality. Relying on the terminology and theoretical contribution of Sylvia Walby, the author points out the existence of private and public patriarchy which, through its joint action, (re)produces gender inequalities within the society. Namely, the egalitarian ideology, changed legislation and modernization processes during the socialist period really promoted greater presence of women in public sphere, but that sphere obtained the form of public patriarchy, while the social position and role of women in it become characterized by segregation, marginalization and lack of privileges. Conversely, the new social order did not destabilize the traditional family model – private patriarchy was present and women remained “in the chains of tradition,” trapped in their role of “wife, mother and housewife”. The analysis of the above mentioned social– cultural and historic framework indicates the subdual of women in both social spheres, which has resulted in their being overburdened. The so-called “socialist” emancipation of women is seen here as a process mainly characterized by the contradiction between the proclaimed ideals of equality and changes arising from the above mentioned reason, on the one hand, and reality in which women, unrelieved from their traditional role, are far from becoming equal members of society on the other hand.

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