Page 111 [111]
GENDER HISTORY RETROSPECTIVE IN HUNGARY AFTER 1949
This meant that views different from those of the party could not be artic¬
ulated on any forums neither during the Rakosi dictatorship, nor beyond that,
during the Kadarian consolidation period. There were thus no grassroots
initiatives. No voices addressing women’s policies, or addressing criticism
against the regime could develop in our country. If opposition circles, alter¬
native thinkers, entered the public sphere regardless during these tense polit¬
ical periods, they were faced with ramifications. During the so-called Philos¬
opher’s Trial of 1973, several people were removed from their academic
positions, after which the control of the state party manifested to an even
harsher degree. Multiple philosophers were arrested for possession of “anti-es¬
tablishment” manuscripts.*”° Similar ideology-based layoffs were, however,
common not only in the 60s and ’70s, but in the later periods too, up until the
end of socialism.
I was removed from ELTE [Eötvös Lorand University] in "85, the police visited the
head of our department and the dean way too many times. They then decided not
to extend my contract as an assistant lecturer. (Subject no. 20, liberal arts)
This virtually meant that an intellectual in Hungary had to completely
renounce their right to freedom of thought and expression in the scientific
field. Thus, up until the late ’80s, keeping distance from politics, indifference,
a low level of civic self-consciousness and a negligible extent of empowerment
was typical.°!! This also meant that the fundamental rights — as well as the
emancipation of women — declared in the Constitution during four decades
of state socialism remained de facto completely under the shadow of party
ideology.
CHANGES IN THE SITUATION OF WOMEN,
OLD AND NEW BARRIERS OF SUCCESS
The social status of women changed profoundly in three areas during the era
of state socialism, due to the significant shifts in working, power structure and
education. Despite the fact, however, that the realisation of women’s emancipa¬
tion was part of public awareness on the turn of the 40s and ’50s, and that the
situation regarding women’s education was beginning to look favourable, all
these changes came with large internal disparities and problems.*” This was
because the fundamental background of all these changes was — beside ideo¬
logical perspectives — the drastic change of economic factors. The inclusion
310 See Acsädy: Megtettük-e azt..., 184-185.
311 Cf. Valuch: A magyar müvelödes; Valuch: „Ne szölj szäm...”, 146-156.
3? Ferge, Zs.: Valtozik-e manapsag a nök helyzete Magyarorszägon?, Letünk, 1982, 5, 883-907.
+ 109 +