Oldal 118 [118]
IZOLDA TAKÁCS: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
was the dominance of traditional roles within the family, which resulted in
the labour related to household duties to be exclusively the burden of women.
Women were therefore drawn onto the labour market en masse propagating
emancipation to no avail during state socialism, men were nonetheless almost
absolutely dismissive with regards to the division of household tasks and they
refused to take their share of childcare duties either.
I had two children, and my husband was reluctant to help. He was fulfilling a tra¬
ditional male role. This meant that the children, the shopping, all the household
chores, cooking, everything was my responsibility. There was no division of labour at
all. He did not provide any support when I needed it the most. True, he did not go
against my scientific career, but I received no help. This was typical male behaviour
at the time, so it was very, very tough for me. This was of course to the detriment of
my sleep, nights were when I could read [...] (Subject no. 16, social sciences)
I had to settle the conference presentation, and the household for my husband for
while I was travelling, so that everything would be there while I was away. (Subject
no. 23, natural sciences)
Women needed to do well in the household as well, and this was especially so in my
time. All the preparations related to travels, conferences, as well as the domestic
tasks were on my shoulder. I recall sitting on the plane in such a tired state that I
did not remember a single thing. I fell asleep as soon as I sat down. (Subject no. 23,
natural sciences)
A survey from 1974 with data from sixteen cities of various sizes, as well as
a similar survey from 1972 with data collected in villages, pointed out the
deeply stereotypical views regarding the most important male and female
virtues.*** This was further reinforced by the study of Maria Neményi and
Anna Kende created from 42 in-depth interviews. The interviews were made
with members of two different generation groups of women (one born in
1945-1946, one born in 1973-1974). The researchers wanted to find answers
with regards to how the historical context of Hungarian post-war society af¬
fected the male-female relations in personal life as well as how it affected the
contents of the female role. The study found, inter alia, that despite fundamen¬
tal differences, values originating from different social circumstances, or even
vastly different life courses (three distinctly different groups were formed
parallel to the different life courses: groups of egalitarians, submissives and
independents), the generalisations and stereotypes regarding men and women,
as well as explanations justifying gender differences, were very similar. It has
334 Zimmermann: A tarsadalmi-nemi (gender-) rezsim, 80.
+ 116°