Работещи пенсионери в България през късния социализъм: икономически ниши и джендър образи
Working Pensioners in Socialist Bulgaria: Economic Niches and Gender Images

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I discuss the social construction of old age men and women in Bulgaria in the 1960s – 1980s. First I outline some official messages and policies encouraging old people to work after their retirement. I argue that two contrasting age and gender roles were of-fered – old women were expected to work at home, helping their offspring with domestic work and childcare, while old men were offered opportunities in heavy industry, construc-tion, and mining. The gender roles offered to younger generations were quite different and proclaimed gender equality, so two parallel set of gender-related propaganda messages co-existed. Then I demonstrate how older people had more legal opportunities for private en-terprise, compared to the younger ones. Finally I argue that the retired people in socialist Bulgaria were encouraged to fill economic niches similar to those occupied by work mi-grants in West Europe.

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