The Role of Women from World War II to Post-War Yugoslavia

THE ROLE OF WOMEN FROM WORLD WAR II TO POST-­‐‑WAR YUGOSLAVIA. FROM ANTI-­‐‑FASCIST FIGHTERS TO UNKNOWN HEROINES

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Ǥdz said Danica Milosavljevic (87), Yugoslav war heroine, who was one of 100,000 women who took part in The Second World War in Yugoslavia. Milosavljevic comes from a very liberal and atypical family at the time of pre-­‐‑war Yugoslavia that did not respect traditional patriarchal values given that she was ǯ Ǥ

The official data say that Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a predominantly agrarian country with 75.7 per cent of the population living in the countryside that have for centuries maintained Ǥ ǡ ǯ ǡ Ǥ Dz splitting all the duties within the h ǡdz ǡ and other everyday tasks and duties. In the rest of the houses in the pre-­‐‑war Yugoslavia, the key roles of women were to be mothers, wives and housewives.

The Yugoslav society at the time suffered deep political, social and inter-­‐‑ethnic tension between Serb, Croats and Slovenians. Preoccupied with internal strife and economic crisis that has engulfed the world after the "Black Thursday", the Kingdom of Yugoslavia had not dealt with "women's issues". The women were in an entirely disadvantaged position in

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every  way.  In  some  regions  of  the  country  the  infamous  Serbian  Civil  Code,  which  was  adopted  in  1844,  was  still  in  force  enabling  men  to  have  a  complete  power  over  women.  The  capacity  to  exercise  rights  for  married  women  were  equal  to  those  of  minors  and  people  with  intellectual  disabilities,  according  to  the  Serbian  Civil  Code.  Woman  was  obliged  to  serve  her  husband  and  other  men  in  the  house,  obey  their  lusts,  and  care  about  home  and  children.  In  the  case  of  divorce,  she  was  able  to  keep  the  female  child  until  she  turns  seven  years,  and  the  male  until  his  fourth  birthday.  The  Code  however  was  not  entirely  practiced  during  the  inter  war  period.    Dragoslava  Knezevic,  a  86-­â€?‑year  old  housewife  from  the  village  of  Knezevici  in  the  north  of  Montenegro  (then  Yugoslavia)  was  not  as  lucky  as  Danica  Milosavljevic.  As  the  only  female  kid  in  her  family  she  was  obliged  to  help  out  with  housework  ever  since.  Along  with  her  mother  and  grandmother,  she  has  always  been  on  service  to  male  member  of  the  big  family.  Dz ‘Â?‡–‹Â?‡• ‹– …‘—Ž† Šƒ’’‡Â? –Šƒ– ƒÂ? •‘ •‹…Â? ƒÂ?† –Šƒ– Â?› ‰”ƒÂ?†ˆƒ–Š‡” ™ƒ• ˆ‡‡Ž Ž‹Â?‡ ‡ƒ–‹Â?‰ popara  (traditional  Yugoslav  meal  with  bread  and  milk)  and  I  would  have  to  make  it  for  Š‹Â?Ǥdz ……‘”†‹Â?‰ –‘ Â?Â‡ÂœÂ‡Â˜Â‹Â…ÇĄ •‹––‹Â?‰ ™ƒ• Â?‘– ƒŽŽ‘™‡†Ǥ Dz Š‡ ‘Â?Ž› ”‡•– Šƒ† ™ƒ• ™Š‡Â? ‰‘ –‘ „‡† ƒ– Â?‹‰Š– ˆ‘” ƒ •Š‘”– •Ž‡‡’ǥdz •Š‡ ƒ††‡†Ǥ   The  legislation  on  property  and  heritage  was  not  any  friendlier  to  Yugoslav  women  putting  them  in  a  totally  subordinate  position.  According  to  the  data  of  January  31,  1921,  the  Kingdom  of  Yugoslavia  had  57.1  per  cent  of  men  who  were  literate  and  38.7  per  cent  of  women.  In  Serbia,  Croatia  and  Slovenia  women  could  go  to  school  as  of  late  19th  century,  while  in  Kosovo,  Macedonia  and  parts  of  Bosnia  sharia  law  applied  until  the  end  of  The  Second  World  War.  University  of  Belgrade,  Zagreb  and  Ljubljana  had  a  total  of  less  than  10  per  cent  of  women  in  the  interwar  period.    Ida  Sabo,  a  97-­â€?‑year  old  war  heroine  from  the  Northern  Yugoslav  province  of  Vojvodina,  says  that  female  children  in  Kosovo,  Southern  Yugoslav  province,  were  forbidden  to  go  to  school  Â

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ƒÂ?† ‡˜‡Â? ‹ˆ –Š‡› †‹† –Š‡› ™‘—Ž† ‰‡– „‡ƒ–‡Â?Ǥ Dz Â?‡ ‘ˆ ‘—” Č? ‘Â?Â?—Â?‹•–•ǯČ? Â?ƒ‹Â? ‰‘ƒŽ• ™ƒ• –‘ ‡†—…ƒ–‡ ™‘Â?‡Â?ÇĄÇł ƒ„‘ •ƒ‹†Ǥ   At  that  time,  women  in  a  number  of  European  and  other  developed  countries  in  the  world  had  the  right  to  vote.  The  Vidovdan  Constitution  of  Kingdom  Yugoslavia  adopted  in  1921  •ƒ‹† ‹– ™‘—Ž† ”‡•‘Ž˜‡ –Š‡ ‹••—‡ ™‹–Š –Š‡ ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• •—ˆˆ”ƒ‰‡ ™‹–Š ƒ •‡’ƒ”ƒ–‡ Žƒ™Ǥ Â‘Â™Â‡Â˜Â‡Â”ÇĄ ‹– †‹†Â?ǯ– …‘Â?‡ –‘ ”‡ƒŽ‹œƒ–‹‘Â?Ǥ Š‡ •ƒÂ?‡  happened  with  the  Octroyed  Constitution  in  1931.  The  participation  of  women,  who  made  up  more  than  half  the  population  of  the  Kingdom  of Â Â—Â‰Â‘Â•ÂŽÂƒÂ˜Â‹ÂƒÇĄ ™ƒ• •›Â?„‘Ž‹…ƒŽ ‹Â? –Š‡ …‘—Â?–”›ǯ• •‘…‹ƒŽ ƒÂ?† ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ Ž‹ˆ‡Ǥ ƒ…Š •–‡’ ‘—– ‘ˆ –Š‡ imposed,  existing  framework  has  been  marred  with  sharp  resistance.  One  example  is  the  case  of  Ksenija  Anastasijevic,  the  first  doctor  of  philosophy  and  first  female  professor  at  the  ‡Ž‰”ƒ†‡ Â?‹˜‡”•‹–›ǎ• ƒ…—Ž–› ‘ˆ Š‹Ž‘•‘’Š›ǥ ™ƒ• ‡š’‡ŽŽ‡† ˆ”‘Â? –Š‡ Â?‹˜‡”•‹–› ƒÂ?† „‡…‘Â?‡ mere  teaching  inspector  in  the  Ministry  of  Education.    Though  symbolically,  the  interwar  period  was  however  the  time  when  women  first  started  coming  out  of  private  sphere  through  two  kinds  of  engagement  -­â€?‑  feminist  associations  and  activities  within  the  newly  formed  Communist  Party  of  Yugoslavia  (KPJ).  Milosavljevic  says  that  these  activities  have  made  pivotal  ground  for  the  future  fight  of  women  for  their  ‡Â?ƒÂ?…‹’ƒ–‹‘Â?Ǥ Dz Š‡ ™‘Â?‡Â? ‹Â? –Š‡ ‹Â?‰†‘Â? ‘ˆ —‰‘•Žƒ˜‹ƒ •–ƒ”–‡† –Š‡ ˆ‹‰Š– Ž‡ƒ˜‹Â?‰ —• ƒÂ? ‘„Ž‹‰ƒ–‹‘Â? –‘ …‘Â?–‹Â?—‡ǥDz Milosavljevic  said.   The  feminist  organizations  in  former  Yugoslavia  have  started  opening  as  of  1919  when  the  ̜ ‘…‹‡–› ˆ‘” –Š‡ †—…ƒ–‹‘Â? ‘ˆ ‘Â?‡Â? ƒÂ?† ”‘–‡…–‹‘Â? ‘ˆ Š‡‹” ‹‰Š–•Dz ™ƒ• ˆ‘—Â?†‡† ‹Â?

Belgrade.  Four  years  later,  various  feminist  associations  from  Yugoslavia  united  in  a  congress  in  Ljubljana,  Slovenia,  into  the  Feminist  Alliance.  All  these  associations  are  dubbed  "a  milestone  in  the  process  of  emancipation  of  women,  as  they  have  managed  with  their Â

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activities  to  bring  a  woman  to  the  public  scene  and  open  them  a  space  for  social  engagement."1   Parallel  with  the  involvement  in  the  feminist  associations,  the  women  were  also  joining  the  newly  founded  Yugoslav  Communist  Party  (KPJ).  Since  1920,  any  work  within  the  party  had  been  carried  out  in  the  underground  as  the  state  had  banned  any  type  of  activity  of  the  Communist  Party  (holding  meetings,  publishing  of  newspapers).  The  KPJ  attracted  women  because,  as  heir  of  socialist  ideas  of  the  19th  century,  it  took  over  theoretical  formulas  on  ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ’‘•‹–‹‘Â? ƒÂ?†  role  in  society.  On  the  other  hand,  the  KPJ  needed  more  members  so  it  called  upon  women  by  promising  them  economical,  political  and  social  equality.  Political  ‡Â?‰ƒ‰‡Â?‡Â?– ‹Â? ‘–Š‡” ’ƒ”–‹‡• ƒ– –Šƒ– –‹Â?‡ ™ƒ• Â?‘– ’‘••‹„Ž‡ ˆ‘” ™‘Â?‡Â? ƒÂ?† ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ’‘•‹–‹‘Â? was  not  on  their  agenda  at  all.    Ida  Sabo  has  been  arrested  numerous  times  in  her  life  due  to  her  activities  within  the  party  „‡ˆ‘”‡ –Š‡ ™ƒ”Ǥ Dz —…Â?› ˆ‘” Â?‡ǥ †‹† Â?‘– Šƒ˜‡ …Š‹Ž†”‡Â?ǥDz ƒ„‘ •ƒ‹† ”‡ˆ‡””‹Â?‰ –‘ Š‡” commitment  to  the  fight  against  the  occupation  but  also  emancipation  of  women.   Gender  equality  as  a  war  reality   The  war  marked  the  official  entry  of  women  into  the  public  social  and  political  scene  and  the  beginning  of  an  uphill  struggle  for  their  emancipation  and  liberation  from  the  shackles  of  a  patriarchal  culture.  Women  have  joined  the  war  in  different  fighting  units  (military,  office,  hospital  ...).  Historian  Ivana  Pantelic  highlighted  three  factors  which  affected  the  entry  of  women  into  combat  units:  atmosphere  in  which  a  large  number  of  young  people                                                             1

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believed  in  social  change,  modernization  of  weapons,  and  mass  exodus  of  men  into  prisons.  Furthermore,  some  women  followed  their  male  partners  (husbands,  fathers,  brothers,  male  friends)  joining  the  party  and  partisan  movement.  Not  all  the  women  and  men  joined  the  Partisans  over  ideology  but  simply  for  the  sake  of  saving  their  life  in  order  to  escape  from  the  Nazis,  Ustasas,  and  Chetnics.    Andjela  Cibilic  (84)  attended  a  high  school  in  Zagreb  when  the  war  started.  She  grew  up  in  a  wealthy  family  but  was  aware  of  inequality  in  the  society  and  wanted  a  better  life  for  all.  She  had  been  distributing  illegal  brochures  of  the  Communist  Party  in  Zagreb  and  was  passionate  about  ideas  of  a  new,  socialist  society.  In  1943,  she  joined  the  Partisans  in  Croatian  Mosla˜‹Â?ƒ ‘—Â?–ƒ‹Â?Ǥ Dz ˆ‡Ž– ‹– ĥ ƒ •–”‘Â?‰ Â…ÂƒÂŽÂŽÇ˘ Šƒ† –‘ „‡ ’ƒ”– ‘ˆ –Š‡ Š‹•–‘”› ™Š‹…Š Partisans  were  creating.  The  fight  against  German  occupant  and  its  domestic  collaborator  •–ƒ•‡ ĥ ™‡ŽŽ ĥ ƒÂ? —”‰‡ ˆ‘” ƒ •‘…‹ƒŽ Œ—•–‹…‡ ™‡”‡ Â?› Â?ƒ‹Â? Â?‘–‹˜ƒ–‹‘Â?ÇĄÇł Â?†Œ‡Žƒ •ƒ‹†.  She ʪĥ –‘‘ ›‘—Â?‰ –‘ –Š‹Â?Â? ƒ„‘—– ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ”‹‰Š–• ƒ– –Š‡ –‹Â?‡ „—– •Š‡ ”‡Â?‡Â?„‡”• •Š‡ ™ƒ• Ç˛ÂƒÂ„Â•Â‘ÂŽÂ—Â–Â‡ÂŽÂ› Â‡Â“Â—ÂƒÂŽÇł †—”‹Â?‰ –Š‡ ™ƒ”Ǥ Dz ‡Â?†‡” ‡“—ƒŽ‹–› ™ƒ• ‘—” ”‡ƒŽ‹–›Ǥ ‡ †‹† ‡˜‡”›–Š‹Â?‰ –‘‰‡–Š‡” ™‹–Š ‘—” Â?ƒŽ‡ …‘Â?Â”ÂƒÂ†Â‡Â•ÇĄ ™‘Â?‡Â? ™‡”‡Â?ǯ– ‡š‡Â?’–‡† ‡˜‡Â? ˆ”‘Â? –Š‡ Šƒ”†‡•– –ƒ•Â?•ǥdz Andjela  says.    ‘”‡ –ŠƒÂ? ͳͲͲǥͲͲͲ ™‘Â?‡Â? †‹”‡…–Ž› ’ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒ–‡† ‹Â? –Š‡ —‰‘•Žƒ˜ ‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‹„‡”ƒ–‹‘n  Army  (NOV)  in  the  WWII.  It  is  estimated  that  women  comprised  10  per  cent  of  all  soldiers  in  the  war.  Approximately  25,000  women  were  killed  or  died  during  the  war  in  Yugoslavia  and  ͜ͲǥͲͲͲ ™‡”‡ ™‘—Â?†‡†Ǥ —‰‘•Žƒ˜ ‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‹„‡”ƒ–‹‘Â? ”Â?› ™ƒ• ‘Â?‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ „‹‰‰‡•– ƒÂ?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– movements  in  Europe  and  its  aim  was  not  only  the  fight  against  enemy  but  also  the  fight  for  ƒ Â?‡™ǥ Œ—•– •‘…‹‡–›Ǥ ‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ‡Â?ƒÂ?…‹’ƒ–‹‘Â? ™ƒ• considered  one  of  the  main  goals  within  general  social  change.      Danica  Milosavljevic  has  always  felt  that  women  should  be  equal  and  thought  that  she  can  truly  become  that  and  prove  it  to  men  only  if  she  puts  the  military  suit  her  father  made  her,  Â

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gets  the  rifle  and  go  to  the  war.  So  she  did.  And  she  was  a  one  out  of  two  woman  in  her  military  troop.   Soon  after,  women  partisans  that  became  a  kind  of  "political  and  social  vanguard" 2  got  the  role  in  society  during  the  war  that  every  woman  should  maintain  after  the  war.  Yet,  in  spite  of  the  mighty  optimism,  enthusiasm  and  belief  in  building  a  new  social  order  must  have  been  extremely  difficult  for  a  woman  who,  in  addition  to  its  traditional  role  of  housewife  and  mother,  took  over  traditional  male  roles  in  a  variety  of  areas.   ‡Â?ǯ• Ž‹˜‡• ‹Â? ˆ‡Â?ƒŽ‡ ŠƒÂ?†•    Most  of  the  women  did  not  get  into  the  actual  fight,  which  does  not  mean  that  they  did  not  fight  for  their  emancipation  from  a  shade.  Many,  like  Knezevic  who  was  15  year  old  when  the  war  started,  served  as  24-­â€?‑hour  waiter  and  cook  for  starving  army,  which  was  coming  by  ˆ‘” •‘Â?‡ ˆ‘‘†Ǥ Dz – …‘—Ž† Â?‘– Šƒ’’‡Â? –Šƒ– ™‡ †‘Â?ǯ– Šƒ˜‡ ÂˆÂ‘Â‘Â†ÇĄÇł Â?‡œ‡˜‹… •ƒ‹† ”‡ˆ‡””‹Â?‰ –‘ –Š‡ fact  that  army  could  drop  by  any  time.  Therefore,  quite  Knezevic  and  her  female  part  of  the  family  would  prepare  much  more  than  necessary  but  more  often  some  military  troops  ™‘—Ž† Œ—•– …‘Â?‡ǥ –ƒÂ?‡ ‡˜‡”›–Š‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† †‹•ƒ’’‡ƒ”Ǥ Š‡ Š‘—•‡ ‘ˆ Â?Â‡ÂœÂ‡Â˜Â‹Â…ÇŻÂ• ˆƒÂ?‹Ž› –Š—• •‘‘Â? became  an  unofficial  hub  for  hungry  solders  in  that  region  of  northern  Montenegro.   She  admits  –Šƒ– •Š‡ †‹† Â?‘– ‡˜‡Â? Šƒ˜‡ –‹Â?‡ –‘ –Š‹Â?Â? –‘ ‰‡– ƒ ”‹ˆŽ‡ ƒÂ?† ‰‘ –‘ ˆ‹‰Š–Ǥ Dz ™ƒ• ˆ‹‰Š–‹Â?‰ ˆ”‘Â? –Š‡ Â?‹–…Š‡Â?ÇĄÇł Â?‡œ‡˜‹… Â?‘–‡†Ǥ  Â

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Marija Pipek (89) was a nurse during the biggest battles through the whole war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina although she ǯ Ǥ born on the Croatian island of Hvar and worked there on the land together with her family.

Ǥ Dz brother told me to be care ǯ Ǥ

ǡdz Ǥ deadly injured while they were together in the famous battle on the River Neretva in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A command was to move on and she had to leave him on the battlefield. Her younger brother had also been killed in the war. Marija was in her early twenties during the war but young male Dz dz Ǥ soldier who sexually harassed her once and she threatened him to report it to a commanding officer. He immediately let her go.

Dz ǯ Ǯ ǯ Ǥ ǯ

ǯ Ǥ It was a big shame to abuse women among the Partisans. We were all supposed to be comrades. Even falling in love and starting a relationship was forbidden ǡdz Ǥ

Danica Milosavljevic confirms that relationships within the party were strongly condemned.

Therefore, a strong self-­‐‑control of emotions was in place, which was not an easy task given Ǥ Dz ȏ Ȑ would not risk their honour in the party because of a w Ǥ ǡdz Milosavljevic said. However, in case it happened that love chemistry and sparks were even above the party, the people involved would get expelled from their military troop, according to Milosavljevic. The so-­‐‑called Partis ǯ led to some extremist and tragic incidents. Female Partisan Bognja Mihailovic was shot Dz dz Dz dz

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member  during  her  treatment  for  tuberculosis  in  a  hospital  in  the  central  Serbian  town  of  Toplica.3   Many  women  had  to  leave  apron,  ladle  and  agriculture  work  and  take  a  gun  instead  due  to  real  need  of  more  people  as  the  battles  continued.  The  phenomenon  of  mass  involvement  of  women  in  the  liberation  struggle  from  the  previously  patriarchal  system  does  not  come  as  surprise  because  of  the  ideological  concept  of  the  Communist  Party.  Along  with  the  first  fights  and  party  sessions,  the  Communists  started  fulfilling  their  promises  equating  women  with  men.  For  the  first  time  a  Yugoslav  woman  was  felt  important  and  worth  her  role  in  society.  Also,  the  ‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• Â?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– ”‘Â?– ‘ˆ —‰‘•Žƒ˜‹ƒ Č‹ ČŒ ™ƒ• ‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‡† ‹Â? ͳ͜͝ʹ ĥ ƒ Â?ÂƒÂ•Â•ÇĄ ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ‘”‰ƒÂ?‹œƒ–‹‘Â? ™Š‹…Š ƒ‹Â?‡† –‘ ‡Â?…‘—”ƒ‰‡ ™‘men  to  join  the  army  and  to  educate  them.     During  the  war,  some  women  like  Milosavljevic  and  Sabo,  were  holding  classes  to  their  party  members  teaching  them  on  what  role  and  rights  women  should  enj‘›Ǥ Dz Š‡› –”‡ƒ–‡† us  as  equal.  That  was  a  preferable  way  of  conduct  of  all  partisans  as  we  were  really  and  Ž‹–‡”ƒŽŽ› †‘‹Â?‰ –Š‡ •ƒÂ?‡ –Š‹Â?‰•ǥDz ‹Ž‘•ƒ˜ŽŒ‡˜‹… …‘Â?ˆ‹”Â?‡†Ǥ   Female  partisan  Nevenka  Petric  Lalic  said  that  the  party  had  made  her  feel  emancipated  and  equal,  and  sometimes  even  superior  during  the  war.4  However,  only  seven  per  cent  of                                                             3

 3DQWHOLß ,YDQD 3DUWL]DQNH NDR JUDÿDQNH. Beograd: Institut za savremenu istoriju i Evoluta, nu. 67, 68.  4

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the total awards had been bestowed to women national heroes in Yugoslavia for their special merits during the war.

Milka Hramosta (86) who was a high-­‐‑school student at the time and working as a nurse on holidays and whenever there were no classes in school, also felt superior. Dz ǡ ȏ ǯ Ȑ ǡdz was something men could not ever forget.

The biggest change, according to her, was that woman would be asked for an intellectual favour Ȃ the favour which included a brain operation and not only hands to cook or wash something.

Dz t they would come and ask them for an opinion on something. Before that, women were not supposed to have an opinion. Imagine what kind of turn-­‐‑ ǡdz Ǥ strange to her mother who would keep te Dz dzǤ

Equality On Paper

The end of the war marked not only the victory of anti-­‐‑fascists but also of the Communist ideology and thus women in Yugoslavia. It however also marked the beginning of a long and tough battle of Yugoslav women in peace for their equal position based on the adopted laws. For the first time in the history of Yugoslavia, women could vote and be elected since 1945. Therefore they presented an important target group in the elections and the ǯ Ǥ

9

Mitra  Mitrovic,  who  was  one  of  the  most  famous  female  revolutionaries  and  founders  of  the  ‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• Â?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– ”‘Â?–ǥ ‹Â? „”‘…Š—”‡ ƒ††”‡••‡† –‘ ™‘Â?‡Â? ™”‘–‡ǣ Dz he  Law  Concerning  Wom‡Â?ǯ• ‹‰Š– –‘ ‘–‡ ƒ””‹˜‡† ƒˆ–‡” ™‡ ƒŽ”‡ƒ†› ‡š‡”…‹•‡† –Šƒ– ”‹‰Š– ‘Â? ‘—” Ž‹„‡”ƒ–‡† –‡””‹–‘”‹‡• •‹Â?…‡ ͳ͜͝ͳǤ Š‡ ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ‡“—ƒŽ‹–› ‹• ™‡ŽŽ ‡ƒ”Â?‡† ”‹‰Š– ˆ‘” ™‘Â?‡Â? ™Š‘ •Š‘™‡† such  strong  national  consciousness,  such  bravery,  such  love  for  the  homeland,  such  resilience  in  occupied  cities  and  villages  in  the  army,  in  war  and  in  the  post-­â€?‑war  rebuilding  of  the  country.  What  is  the  duty  of  the  women  on  these  elections?  Our  first  task  is  that  all  of  —• ‰‘ –‘ –Š‡ ’‘ŽŽ‹Â?‰ ’Žƒ…‡•Ǥ Š‡”‡ •Š‘—Ž†Â?ǯ– „‡ ƒÂ?› ™‘Â?‡Â? –Šƒ– †‹†Â?ǯ– vote  on  these  ‡Ž‡…–‹‘Â?•Ǥdz5    Encouraging  words  came  also  from  the  Dzthe  greatest  son  of  our  peopleÇł  -­â€?‑-­â€?‑  Josip  Broz  Tito,  the  leader  of  ‰—‡””‹ŽŽƒ ’ƒ”–‹•ƒÂ?ǯ• Â?‘˜‡Â?‡Â?– ƒÂ?† –Š‡ …Š‹‡ˆ ƒ”…Š‹–‡…– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ̜•‡…‘Â?† Â—Â‰Â‘Â•ÂŽÂƒÂ˜Â‹ÂƒÇłÇŁ Dz ‘Â?‡Â? ‘ˆ Â—Â‰Â‘Â•ÂŽÂƒÂ˜Â‹ÂƒÇĄ ™Š‘ •ƒ…”‹ˆ‹…‡† –Š‡Â?selves  without  hesitation  in  the Â Â™ÂƒÂ”ÇĄ ™Š‘ ’‡”•‹•–‡Â?–Ž› •–‘‘† ‘Â? –Š‡ ˆ”‘Â?–Ž‹Â?‡• ‘ˆ ‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‹„‡”ƒ–‹‘Â? –”—‰‰Ž‡ǥ Š‡”‡ ƒÂ?† today  have  the  right,  once  for  all  times.  This  struggle  has  to  benefit  women  of  all  of Â Â—Â‰Â‘Â•ÂŽÂƒÂ˜Â‹ÂƒÇŻÂ• Â?ƒ–‹‘Â?•ǥ ƒÂ?† Â?‘ ‘Â?‡ ™‹ŽŽ ‡˜‡” „‡ ƒ„le  to  take  away  those  hard  earned  rights  ˆ”‘Â? –Š‡Â?Ǩdz   Eighty  eight  per  cent  of  the  Yugoslav  women  voted  in  the  first  post-­â€?‑war  elections  in  1945.  Communists  came  on  power  and  the  ‡†‡”ƒŽ ‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‡’—„Ž‹… ‘ˆ —‰‘•Žƒ˜‹ƒ Č‹ ČŒ ™ƒ• constituted.  The  Constitution  was  adopted  a  year  later  and  it  guarantied  the  gender  equality.  According  to  a  new  law  women  were  supposed  to  receive  the  same  pay  as  men,  a  three  month  paid  maternity  leave  and  special  laws  and  regulations  on  protecting  a  status  of  working  women,  mothers  and  children  were  introduced.  Women  could  keep  their  maiden  name  after  being  married,  they  had  the  same  right  on  raising  children  and  the  property                                                             5  0LWURYLĂź 0LWUD 945. 3UDYR JODVD ĂĽHQD RUXĂżH L GRND] GHPRNUDWLMH %HRJUDG $QWLIDĂŁLVWLĂžND IURQWD ĂĽHQD Â

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acquired in marriage after divorce and they were equal to men in inheritance of the family property.

Socio-­‐‑economic status of women in socialist Yugoslavia had completely changed compared to the status in the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Women started to educate themselves and they massively entered the labour market but this was only a formal equation.

Dz

ͳ͵ Ǥ ǯ happened after the WWII, I would have been a maidservant for some bourgeois ǡdz says Andjelka Martic (88), a famous Croatian children writer. Her first job was in a famous bookshop Kugli in Zagreb where she was an assistant. It was engraved into her memory that ȋ Ȍ Ǥ Dz oba and they were Ǥ

ǯ Ǥdz Communist. She has never heard of him since.

Dz ǯ ǡ ǡ be a job for all, life will be better Ȃ ǯ

Ǥ ǡ ǯ Ǥ r me ǡ ǡdz Andjelka. She was a typist in the army -­‐‑-­‐‑ Dz ǡdz smile -­‐‑-­‐‑ and she started to write war poetry soon which brought her writing talent to the light. After the war she got a job in a media publishing house Vjesnik and wrote many ǯ Ǥ Dz Ǣ better. Also, we had free education and free health and social care. I could support my ǯ Ǥdz

11

When  Ida  Sabo  got  back  from  the  war,  in  which  she  lost  her  husband  who  was  killed  just  weeks  after  the  official  end  of  the  war,  she  went  to  see  her  mother  in  the  northern  Serbian/Yugoslav  town  of  Subotica  and  caught  her  doing  tons  of  laundry.  Sabo  recalls  that  –Š‡ ˆ‹”•– –Š‹Â?‰ •Š‡ –‘Ž† –‘ Š‡” Â?‘–Š‡” Â™ÂƒÂ•ÇŁ Dz ‘— ™‹ŽŽ Â?‘ Ž‘Â?‰‡” „‡ †‘‹Â?‰ –Š‡ ‘–Š‡”•ǯ Žƒ—Â?†”›Ǥdz   But  when  Marija  Pipek  was  asked  if  her  involvement  in  the  war  helped  her  to  improve  her  ’‘•‹–‹‘Â? ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ Â™ÂƒÂ”ÇĄ •Š‡ ƒÂ?•™‡”‡†ǣ Dz ‘–Š‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† Â?‘ ‘Â?‡ Š‡Ž’‡† Â?‡Ǥ ™ƒ• ’‘‘” „‡ˆ‘”‡ ƒÂ?† after  the  war.  If  you  were  able  to  work  you  could  survive,  if  not  Ȃ  die.  Maybe  the  Communist  Party  or  the  Wom‡Â?ǯ• Â?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– ”‘Â?– Š‡Ž’‡† •‘Â?‡ ™‘Â?‡Â? ™Š‘ ™‡”‡ ‹Â?˜‘Ž˜‡† ‹Â? –Š‡‹” ™‘”Â? „—– ™ƒ• …‘Â?’Ž‡–‡Ž› ‘Â? Â?› ‘™Â?Ǥ – ™ƒ• ƒ Šƒ”† •–”—‰‰Ž‡ ˆ‘” Ž‹ˆ‡ ƒŽŽ –Š‡ –‹Â?‡Ǥdz   The  Chains  Of  Patriarchy   Š‡ Â?‡™ —‰‘•Žƒ˜‹ƒ Šƒ† ˆ‘•–‡”‡† ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ‡Â?ƒÂ?…‹’ƒ–‹‘Â? ‹Â? –Š‡ ˆ‹‡Ž† ‘ˆ Žƒ„‘—” by  adopting  new  laws  and  opening  new  job  positions.  The  reconstruction  and  development  of  the  war  devastated  country  had  needed  a  massive  working  force.  Women  stood  in  the  place  of  the  many  killed  men  and  had  a  chance  to  achieve  economic  independence  reserved  for  men  only  before  the  war.  —–ǥ ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ’”‡•‡Â?…‡ ‹Â? –Š‡ •–ƒ–‡ ƒ’’ƒ”ƒ–—• ™ƒ• “—‹–‡ ’‘‘”Ǥ In  the  newly  formed  federal  government  there  were  no  women.  Out  of  five  republics,  three  republican  governments  Ȃ  Croatian,  Serbian  and  Slovenian  Ȃ  had  one  female  minister  each.  All  three  of  them  were  partisans  during  the  war.  Most  of  the  women  who  took  political  positions  after  the  war  were  ex  partisans.  The  Yugoslav  parliament  had  22  women  (four  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  MPs)  out  of  537  parliamentarians  in  both  chambers.  Olga  Nincic  Humo,  partisan  and  professor  of  English,  said  that  women  formally  had  all  rights  "but  were  not  strong  enough  to  use  them."6                                                              6

3DQWHOLĂź ,YDQD 3DUWL]DQNH NDR JUDĂżDQNH. Beograd: Institut za savremenu istoriju i Evoluta, nu. 107

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The post-­‐‑war woman has kept her traditional role at home but got new quite demanding ones including the one to educate younger generation in the spirit of loyalty to socialism and participate in the renewal of the war-­‐‑devastated country equally as men. According to ǡ ǯ family ( Ȍ Ǥ Dz ǯ at work as well as opening of kindergartens where she could leave children and come to ǡdz Ǥ ǯ ǡ had been working on the issue along with enlightening women across the country on their rights.

The ǯ had branches in all local municipalities in Yugoslavia, each dealing with its own topics and issues with a common aim of shifting ǯ from de jure to de facto equal. The socialist transformation of society has resulted in a significant, although not complete transformation of the position of women in the society.

These were particularly hard times for women in rural areas where they were majority of working force (60-­‐‑80 per cent) but insignificant and invisible when it comes to decision making.

Belgrade based physician Bosiljka Milosevic analyzed the work capabilities of women in the new Yugoslavia. She concluded that employed women would get tired more easily than men because they had additional work at home. That sort of work ranged from nine hours for women without children up to 15 hours for women with children under the age of two.

Therefore Milosevic concluded ǣ Dz Ǥdz7

7

Milosevic, Bosiljka. 1953. Concerning Work Capabilities of Woman. Belgrade. äHQD GDQDV issue 103:15

13

It  was  clear  -­â€?‑  the  problem  remained  in  the  area  of  private  and  family  "where  the  patriarchal  order  has  remained  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  people".8  In  socialism  as  well  as  in  civil  capitalist  society  family  has  been  a  place  where  traditional  patriarchal  relations  have  been  Â?‡’– ƒŽ‹˜‡ „‡…ƒ—•‡ ̜–Š‡ •‡š‡• ”‡–ƒ‹Â? –Š‡‹” ̾‡Â?„‘†‹‡†̾ Â?ƒ–—”ƒŽÂ?‡••dzǤ9    The  women  must  have  had  got  out  of  the  war  as  the  absolute  winner  on  both  public  and  personal  level.  The  remaining  constraint  that  the  society  was  putting  in  front  of  women  had  its  notion  rooted  in  the  collective  consciousness  that  the  man  is  smarter  than  women,  and  that  therefore  he  must  be  the  main  decision-­â€?‑maker  both  in  politics  and  at  home.  As  much  as  the  post-­â€?‑war  changes  were  radical,  patriarchal  family  relationships  that  have  been  cultivated  for  centuries  could  not  possibly  be  easy  to  eradicate.  Once  the  war  was  over,  female  fighters,  soldiers  or  nurses  must  have  felt  not  only  important  but  also  stronger  and  more  self-­â€?‑confident.  Aware  of  her  rights  and  appreciating  herself  more,  women  have  accordingly  revised  their  position  and  relations  inside  her  home.   Living  in  a  very  patriarchal  family  with  her  four  children,  husband  and  his  parents,  Knezevic  ƒ†Â?‹–• –Šƒ– •Š‡ …‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡ Â?‘– ‹Â?…Ž—†‡† –Š‡ ™‘”† ǡ ‘Dz –‘ Š‡” ˜‘…ƒ„—Žƒ”› „—– –Šƒ– •Š‡ Šƒ† taught  her  three  daughters  to  do  so  and  never  let  a  man  order  them  anything.    Andjela  Cibilic  said  her  life  was  very  differ‡Â?– –ŠƒÂ? Š‡” Â?‘–Š‡”ǯ•ǣ Š‡” Â?‘–Š‡” ™ƒ• Â?ƒ””‹‡† ƒ– the  age  of  15  and  had  two  children  till  her  20th  birthday.  Andjela  gave  a  birth  to  her  first  child  in  her  late  twenties  after  she  came  back  from  the  war,  graduated  chemistry  and  got  the  job.  Still,  the  role  of  her  husband  was  pretty  much  the  same  as  of  her  father:  they  both                                                             8

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™‡”‡ „”‡ƒ†™‹Â?Â?‡”• ƒÂ?† ’”‘˜‹†‡† ƒ …‘Â?ˆ‘”–ƒ„Ž‡ Ž‹ˆ‡ ˆ‘” –Š‡‹” ˆƒÂ?‹Ž‹‡• „—– †‹†Â?ǯ– Š‡Ž’ ‹Â? housework  and  taking  care  of  children.    Milka  Hramosta  was  lucky  when  it  comes  to  splitting  housework  with  her  husband.  Unlike  Š‡” ÂˆÂƒÂ–ÂŠÂ‡Â”ÇĄ Š‡” Š—•„ƒÂ?† –ƒÂ?‹•ƒ Šƒ† ”‡Â?ƒ‹Â?‡† Ç˛Âƒ –”—‡ …‘Â?Â”ÂƒÂ†Â‡Çł –‹ŽŽ †‡ƒ–ŠǤ Dz ‡ –”‡ƒ–‡† Â?‡ ĥ equal.  We  would  be  planning  everything  together,  advising  each  other  as  we  both  worked  in  –Š‡ •ƒÂ?‡ ˆ‹‡Ž† Č?‘ˆ ‡†—…ƒ–‹‘Â?Č?ÇĄÇł •Š‡ •ƒ‹†Ǥ Dz ƒ–er  on,  when  we  got  kids,  Stanisa  was  helping  out  ƒ• ƒ ”‡ƒŽ ™‘Â?ƒÂ?ÇĄÇł •Š‡ ƒ††‡†Ǥ ‹Â?…‡ ”ƒÂ?‘•–ƒ ™ƒ• ™‘”Â?‹Â?‰ ĥ ƒ –‡ƒ…Š‡” ‹Â? ‡Ž‡Â?‡Â?–ƒ”› school  with  a  high  school  degree,  Stanisa  had  encouraged  her  to  pursue  a  BA  degree.  During  that  time,  Stanisa  took  over  her  part  of  housework  in  order  to  let  her  study  alone.    The  Communist  Party  portrayed  the  post-­â€?‑™ƒ” ™‘Â?ƒÂ? ĥ DzÂ?‡™ ™‘Â?ƒÂ?Çł ™Š‘ ƒ”‹•‡Â? •–”‘Â?‰ǥ self-­â€?‑confident  and  heroic  from  the  antifascists  struggle  but  that  new  woman  was  exhausted  of  working  two  shifts  -­â€?‑-­â€?‑  at  work  and  home.  Furthermore,  women  equally  as  men  were  ‘„Ž‹‰ƒ–‡† –‘ ˜‘Ž—Â?–ƒ”› ™‘”Â? ‘Â? …‘Â?•–”—…–‹Â?‰ Â?‡™ ”‘ƒ†•Ǥ Š‡› †‹†Â?ǯ– Šƒ˜‡ ƒ –‹Â?‡ ˆ‘” ƒ––‡Â?†‹Â?‰ ‡˜‡Â?‹Â?‰ ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ Â?‡‡–‹Â?‰• ƒÂ?† Ž‡ƒ”Â?‹Â?‰ ƒ„‘—– ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• ”‹‰Š–•Ǥ Â? ƒ††‹–‹‘Â? –‘ –Š‹•ǥ kindergartens  have  only  started  appearing  at  the  time.    • –Š‡ –‹Â?‡ ™ƒ• ’ƒ••‹Â?‰ „›ǥ –Š‡ ‹Â?‹–‹ƒŽ ‡Â?–Š—•‹ƒ•Â? Šƒ† •–ƒ”–‡† †‡…Ž‹Â?‹Â?‰Ǥ Š‡ DzÂ?‡™ ™‘Â?ƒÂ?Çł ™ƒ• Â?‘– ƒ Dz•—’‡” ™‘Â?ƒÂ?Çł ƒ„Ž‡ –‘ Â?—Ž–‹–ƒ•Â? ƒÂ?‘Â?‰ ƒŽŽ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‰‹˜‡Â? ”‘Ž‡• ™‹–Š ‘ˆ–‡Â? Â?‘ ”‡ƒŽ support  within  the  male  part  of  society.  In  the  Žƒ–‡ ˆ‘”–‹‡• –Š‡ ‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• Â?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– ”‘Â?–  ”‡†‡ˆ‹Â?‡† –Š‡ ™‘Â?ƒÂ?ǯ• ”‘Ž‡ ‹Â? –Š‡ •‘…‹‡–›Ǥ ”‘Â? ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽŽ› ƒÂ?† ‡…‘Â?‘Â?‹…ƒŽŽ› ‹Â?†‡’‡Â?†‡Â?– ™‘Â?ƒÂ?ÇĄ –Š‡ •–”‡•• ™ƒ• •Š‹ˆ–‡† ‘Â? –”ƒ†‹–‹‘Â?ƒŽ ™‘Â?ƒÂ?ǯ• –ƒ•Â?• -­â€?‑-­â€?‑  nursing  children,  elderly  and  others  in  need.    As  a  result  oˆ –Š‡ •–”—‰‰Ž‡ ƒÂ?† ’‘‘” ”‡•—Ž–• ‹Â? –Š‡ ˆ‹‡Ž† ‘ˆ ‹Â?’”‘˜‹Â?‰ ™‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• Ž‹ˆ‡ ‹Â? –Š‡ post-­â€?‑™ƒ” ’‡”‹‘†ǥ ‘Â?‡Â?ǯ• Â?–‹ˆƒ•…‹•– ”‘Â?–  was  brought  to  closure  in  1953.  The  Executive  Â

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Board of AFZ recommended that Congress should make a decision to disband AFZ. According to Milosavljevic, there was a proposition that women should involve in some ǡ ǡ ǯ Ǥ

Dz political life and led to a wrong conclusion that women have to fight against the rest of the society, in order to achieve their rights.dz10

Vladimir Nazor, famous Croatian writer and partisan, held a speech for female partisans ͳͻͶͶ Dz ǯ ǯ -­‐‑-­‐‑ as some people think -­‐‑-­‐‑ Ǥdz 11

Dz dz Dz dz -­‐‑-­‐‑ socialist society.

N Dz Ȃ dzǤ ǣ Dz ǯ Ǥdz

Dz ǯ

ǡdz ǯ e writer and war comrade Andjelka Martic.

10 11

:RPHQ¶V PDJD]LQH äHQD danas. 1953, issue 112:10 :RPHQ¶V Pagazine äHQD X ERUEL 1944, issue 7:17

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