„Liberated Household“: Dealing with Second Shift in Post-War Czechoslovakia by Women’s Organizations

LÁNÍKOVÁ, Marie and Adéla SOURALOVÁ. „Liberated Household“: Dealing with Second Shift in Post-War Czechoslovakia by Women’s Organizations. In ESA 12th Conference. 2015.

Basic information

• Original name: „Liberated Household“: Dealing with Second Shift in Post-War Czechoslovakia by Women’s Organizations
• Name in Czech: "Osvobozená domácnost": Druhá směna a její řešení ženskými organizacemi v poválečném československu
• Authors: LÁNÍKOVÁ, Marie and Adéla SOURALOVÁ.
• Edition: ESA 12th Conference, 2015.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50000 5. Social Sciences
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret

Abstract

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.

Abstract (in Czech)

Příspěvek (poster) se věnuje družstvu Osvobozená domácnost. Sleduje přitom, jak se v poválečném Československu ustavuje diskurz o domácích pracích. Analýza dobových časopisů vykresluje tehdejší přemýšlení o druhé směně a o povaze práce v domácnosti.