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GENDER HISTORY RETROSPECTIVE IN HUNGARY AFTER 1949 This meant that views different from those of the party could not be articulated 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, alternative thinkers, entered the public sphere regardless during these tense political periods, they were faced with ramifications. During the so-called Philosopher’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-establishment” 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 emancipation 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 ideological 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 +
