Gender roles in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe refer to the expectations that society has for the behavior and characteristics of men and women. In the past, when communist regimes were in power, the idea of gender roles was believed to be less important, and both men and women were expected to work and contribute to society equally.
However, after the fall of communism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, gender roles began to shift again. In many societies in Central and Eastern Europe, traditional gender roles became more emphasized. Men were expected to be the breadwinners and women were expected to stay at home and take care of the household and children.
These expectations often limited women’s opportunities in the workforce and led to gender inequalities. Women were also subjected to discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. In contrast, men were seen as being valued for their leadership skills and assertiveness.
Modernization in post-communist countries brought changes to gender roles. Women have been able to obtain more professional opportunities that were once considered to be “men’s work”. However, many societal attitudes towards gender roles have yet to change for some countries in the region.
Overall, gender roles in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe have been influenced by historical, political, and cultural factors, and they continue to evolve over time.