Sociology of Croatian society:Gender

Siniša ZrinščakApril 7, 2015

sinisa.zrinscak@pravo.hr http://www.sinisazrinscak.com/

Gender?

• Gender = scientific or ideological concept?• „Imported gender ideology”?!? - just a Croatian story?

Other European societies?• Referendum on the definition of marriage =

Constitutional amendment • Croatian Bishops’ Conference message – 23.10.14.:Gender ideology can be found under different names:

gender theory, gender perspective, gender ideology, etc. Although this ideology is spread and present in many aspects of today’s life the ultimate goal of it is not easy visible. The defenders of this ideology label their

activities as „noble endeavour and fight against discrimination”, or speak about „pledge for implementation of freedom and equality”, or „for accomplishment of tolerance”. More close look shows, however, aims and methods which it uses. …. Gender ideology aims to human roots. Without firm footing in tradition and culture it starts from the assumption that human being is by itself non-gender being ….

Concept of gender reduced to sexual orientations – why and how?

Sociological approach• Sex – biological concept – sex characteristics• Gender – social construction – a social distinction

based on culturally conceived and learned ideas about appropriate appearance, behaviour, and mental and emotional characteristics for males and females – different societies = different ideas

• Gender polarization – organizing of social life around male-female ideals – people’s sex influences every aspect of their life

• I. Crespi – „differential socialization” concept = different expectations from M and W (boys and girls)

… Europeanization and gender• Does and how the Europeanization changes the post-

communist societies?• Literature review :• Gender equality not high on the negotiation agenda• Social circumstances vs. gender equality• Still, the EU as a “window of opportunity” for non-

biding issues (depending on domestic actors)• Rising criticism about results: • (1) complying gap theses; • (2)domestic resistance, importance of domestic

actors (positions, powers…)

Past and present• Past: dual earner model / employment of W (like in

SW), but crucial differences: necessity to work, traditional pattern: domestic work only for W, no civil society, no public discussion – family as „sacred” spot without state interventions

• Present: fall in employment, influence of religion, economic problems = Re-traditionalization?

• Yes, but only partly + differences among countries• “We argue that the emerging regimes in CEE

countries could be seen as dual earner regimes, with comparatively strong collective

• support for women’s employment and for parents and few characteristics of male breadwinner regimes. But these dual earner regimes have suffered economic blows, leading to losses of state support for gender equality, low living standards and unemployment as a new risk. Their dual earner status is thus more challenged than in Scandinavian countries, and their support for gender equality more fragile.” G. Pascall, A. Kwak (2010) Gender regimes in transition: Gender equality in CEE countries? In: C. Klenner, S. Leiber (eds.) Welfare states and gender equality in CEE. Brussels: ETUI aisbl.

Croatia• Context: • Legacy - traditional gender division of labour, weak

civil society / women’s organization (though first shelter for battered women in Zagreb in 1990)

• 1990s: nation and state building process, influence of religion, weak and late Europeanization

• Three phases:• - the absence of a gender equality agenda in the

1990s• - new opportunities, 2000-2003• - (weak) EU conditionality, 2004….

Activ. and unempl. rate gender gap

-16%

-14%

-12%

-10%

-8%

-6%

-4%

-2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Activity rate gender gap (15-64) Activity rate gender gap (25-49)Unemployment rate gender gap (15-64) Unemployment rate gender gap (25-49)

Working time and leaves

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%

4.5%

5.0%

5.5%

19

96

-19

99

20

00

-20

03

20

04

-20

07

20

08

-20

11

19

96

-19

99

20

00

-20

03

20

04

-20

07

20

08

-20

11

19

96

-19

99

20

00

-20

03

20

04

-20

07

20

08

-20

11

19

96

-19

99

20

00

-20

03

20

04

-20

07

20

08

-20

11

Share employed part-time* On sick-leave On care-related leave On vacation leave

Among men (per cent) Among women (per cent)

Employment rates

50%

53%

56%

59%

62%

65%

68%

71%

74%

77%

80%

2002-2003 2004-2007 2008-2011

50.0%

53.0%

56.0%

59.0%

62.0%

65.0%

68.0%

71.0%

74.0%

77.0%

80.0%

Mothers, child 7-10 years

Mothers, child 3-6 years

Mothers, child less than 6monthsMothers, child 6-12 months

Mothers, child 1-2 years

Men 25-34 without children

Women 25-34 without children

Gender in legislative positions

0%

4%

8%

12%

16%

20%

24%

28%

32%

36%

40%

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

Members of Parliament County assemblies City councils Municipality councils

Gender attitudes in HR• Labour division in home – three types of jobs found

in the research:• 1. jobs which are seen as mainly women’s (ironing

and washing clothes) or mainly men’s (fixing things in home) – 81% said that ironing is women’s job

• 2. jobs seen as primarily women’s (cooking, cleaning…) or men’s (pouring petrol), but those who consider that as for both sexes is as high as between 40 and 50%

• 3. jobs seen as equally pertaining to M and W: baying foods, taking care about home budget…

• Source:• Zrinščak, S., Geiger, M. (2008) Aspects of Family Pluralization-

Models of Masculinity and Femininity, Distribution of Work and Gender Socialization. In: Men and Women He Created Them. Women and Men in Living and Service of God´s Mission. Collection of Essays. Split: Franjevački institut za kulturu mira, pp. 113- 134. (In Croatian)

• And – at the end – what is the gender equality?• J. Plantenga, C. Remery, H. Figueiredo and M. Smith

(2009) Towards a European Union Gender Equality Index. Journal of European Social Policy 19(1):19-33

• How to explain differences among countries?

Gender equality index?Dimensions Subdimensions IndicatorsEqual sharing of paid work

Labour force participationUnemployment

Gender employ gapGender unempl gap

Equal sharing of money

PayIncome

Gender pay gapGender poverty gap among single househ

Equal sharing of decision-making power

Political powerSocio-economic power

Gender gap in parliamGender gap in ISCO1

Equal sharing of time

Caring timeLeisure

G gap in caring time – childG gap in leisure time

Results – composite index score Finland – 0.74Sweden – 0.72…Lithuania – 0.59Germany – 0.59UK – 0.56France – 0.56….Poland – 0.53Austria – 0.52Czech R. – 0.51

Italy – 0.41Spain – 0.37…Greece – 0.26

The need to use various indicators and to understand the meaning of eachEurostat data: The unadjusted gender pay gap, 2013: Difference between average gross hourly earnings of male and female employees as % of male gross earnings