Women's Employment in Transition, 1992–4: the Case of Poland

Abstract

Since the early 1990s the Polish economy has, in the move towards a market economy, undergone substantial economic reforms which resulted initially in a severe recession and notably in widespread unemployment. In a country where women have traditionally played a major role in the workforce it is pertinent to ask how their role has been affected during the early years of transition to a market economy, what factors explain this, and what their employment prospects are likely to be in a free market economy. After sketching the key features of women's employment in Poland pre-transition the article then addresses these questions using data drawn mainly from the Labour Force Surveys of 1992 and 1994. It finds that women's labour market position has been changing and in 1994 could be said to be mixed: while on the one hand it seems to be deteriorating (rising rates of inactivity and unemployment, the feminization of part-time work), on the other women seem to have been relatively protected from the worst effects of marketization and are in a better position than men according to some unemployment indicators. Prospects for women's employment under a free market economy also appear to be mixed, with much depending on whether the Polish government introduces a framework of national measures to support and encourage women who enter into paid employment.

Experiences With Dating Aggression and Sexual Coercion Among Polish College Students

“…However, by the early 1990s Polish women's economic opportunities, sexual freedom, social influence, and political power relative to men had actually declined (Titkow, 1993). Although Polish women, particularly younger women, were better educated than Polish men, they were much more likely to be unemployed (Gregory, Ingham, & Ingham, 1998). In addition, women were, and continue to be, subjected to systemic discrimination in employment and pervasive sexual harassment at work (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, 2002).…”

Perceived Unemployment

“…Similarly, Tomescu-Dubrow (2007) demonstrates that the risk of unemployment is lower for those working in occupations previously privileged by the communist regime and higher for those in heavy industry, especially for those who did not move into privately owned firms. Finally, unemployment in Poland disproportionately affects women, the young, those who are not married, and those with less education (see Gregory, Ingham, and Ingham 1998;Herzog 2000;Lovell 2007). …”

Public Sector Reform and Women's Work in Poland: ‘Working for Juice, Coffee and Cheap Cosmetics!’

“…There is a growing literature on the gender impact of the transformation of the economy (Ashwin 2000;Gal and Kligman, 2000;Lazreg, 1999;Hoven van, 2001). Most of this work argues that women have born the brunt of the move to the market by suffering disproportionately from unemployment, though others suggest that opportunities for women are greater now than under communism (Gregory et al , 1998). The privatization process, coupled with incoming foreign investment, has profoundly restructured employment opportunities for women as well as their experience of work.…”