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GENDER HISTORY RETROSPECTIVE IN HUNGARY AFTER 1949
principles would be more welcome instead of the instability of values or the
shift of values spreading currently regarding the women’s ideal.”*** She believes
that one of the biggest problems with constantly changing ideals is that one
of the devices for solving social issues (like unemployment) is “sacrificing
women”, not only unequivocally, but almost as a knee-jerk action, meaning
pushing women into the background as workforce and back into family roles
again (as seen with GYES in the ’70s). Another of the biggest problems is that
if we adjust ourselves to one image of a woman’s ideal in any given era, and
this ideal then changes based on the nature and magnitude of a social issue,
the forced adjustment that follows can be of detriment to those denying them¬
selves by the process, and can cause social harm to those who are not able to
adjust themselves to this image.*”°
So if society stresses the domestic role of women in a particular era, con¬
sidering that to be the ideal (“Like, women need to make the most effort around
the house” [Subject no. 10, doctor of technical sciences]; “taking the child to
the nursery belongs to the regular tasks of a woman” [Subject no. 23, natural
sciences]), a large number of women will find themselves in a dilemma. If they
identify with their career and if they intend to have children at the same time,
they may experience internal conflicts or psychological dilemmas. Ifa woman
decides to stay at home in such a case, she would contradict herself, but if she
chooses the scientific career instead, she might consider herself to be a bad
mother. If she decides on both (family and career), she will encounter a dis¬
proportionately larger burden, as long as there is no social norm, family pol¬
icy, or act of law which would include men into the early period of childcare.
Those who don’t have assistance but have a family need to face the challenge of
choice, I mean, what do I do now? Who is at the fore? And if there is such, it is a losing
situation from then on, because there are no good choices there. Truly, a woman has
to decide for family, a mother for her child. But then she abandons her profession.
(Subject no 5, natural sciences)
I need to add that, as I have lived alone, a conflict like that, I mean who will do the
cooking or take care of the child, me or my husband, I never had that in my life, but
I have measured it up. This was one hell of a choice for me. But my ambition was
to be at least more than a mediocre scholar. So living together, I would not have
been able to deal with that. If you like, I have chosen the easier part. (Subject no.
25, social sciences)
348 Tbidem, 906.
349 Thidem.
e 121 e