Gender Inequality in the Eastern European Labour Market: Twenty-five years of transition since the fall of communism (Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series)

Under communism there was, in the countries of Eastern Europe, a high level of gender equality in the labour market, particularly in terms of high participation rates by women. The transition from communism has upset this situation, with different impacts in the different countries. This book presents a comprehensive overview of gender and the labour market since the fall of communism in a wide range of Eastern European countries. Each country chapter describes the nature of inequality in the particular country, and goes on to examine the factors responsible for this, including government policies, changing social attitudes, levels of educational attainment and the impact of motherhood. Overall, the book provides an interesting comparison to the situation in Western developed countries, outlining differences and similarities. No one single Eastern European model emerges while, as in Western developed countries, a range of experiences and trends is the norm.-- Provided by Publisher Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of figures 8 List of tables 12 List of abbreviations 14 List of contributors and affiliations 15 Prologue 17 1 The wider context 24 2 Bulgaria 44 3 Czech Republic 67 4 East Germany 100 5 Estonia 123 6 Hungary 159 7 Lithuania 174 8 Poland 192 9 Romania 240 10 Slovenia 265 Epilogue 292 Index 298