Publication details
„Liberated Household“: Dealing with Second Shift in Post-War Czechoslovakia by Women’s Organizations
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | In the proposed paper we explore the emergence of the second shift in post-war Czechoslovakia (1945—1948). In this period, the Czechoslovak society had to deal with a lack of work force caused specially by the Second World War and the expulsion of German inhabitants. This new situation led to the mobilisation of workforce which didn’t include women but they were encouraged to take up paid jobs. Suddenly, the women found themselves in the double position of being a mother and wife (responsible for the care and domestic work at home) and being a worker. The women’s organization came with a quite progressive solution—to delegate the domestic work to another woman. To institutionalize the supply of domestic work and to ensure its qualification and professionalism, the women’s organization called for the collectivization of domestic service and promoted the formation of “Liberated Household”. Drawing upon the analysis of the journals published by the women’s organization between 1945—1948, we look into how the institution of Liberated Household was represented and what discourse was created around the delegation of domestic work. We put this discourse in the particular social, historical and political context and reveal quite progressive rhetoric around the domestic work and its recognition. |