Varieties of Feminism

The transformation of gender relations in post-socialist Europe is rooted in the entangled histories of state- and post-socialism. Gender equality was the official goal of the socialist rule and a target achieved in particular with regard to women’s participation in employment. However, after the end of the bi-polar world order the post-socialist countries of Europe have not only been confronted with new transnational gender discourses, but also with stabilization of patriarchy and re-traditionalization of gender norms.

This colloquium addresses the transformation of gender relations and the new gender politics in post-socialist countries using the examples of Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia and the successor states to the former Yugoslavia. Its aim is to discuss and reflect the influences of the socialist past on current gender politics in post-socialist Europe.

The speakers will provide an overview of various aspects of gender inequalities in both the past and the present. Presentations will deal with the political implementation and the (fierce) reactions to EU gender equality politics, will map out the problems and challenges resulting from this situation and investigate the emancipatory potential of transnational feminism. Finally, the ‘Othering’ of Eastern Europeans in the studies of gender relations will be targeted and questions how this can be avoided in methodology and theory will be addressed.