Women's Economic Activity in Slovakia during the Interwar Period
Women's Economic Activity in Slovakia during the Interwar Period

Summary/Abstract: Background: The issue of women's employment remains an under-researched topic within Slovak historiography. This study seeks to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by examining women's employment in Slovakia during the interwar period. Objectives: The study aims to analyse the level of economic activity among women in Slovakia, its sectoral structure and regional differences, as well as the marital status of economically active women. Particular attention is paid to a comparison of female and male employment. Methods: Methodologically, the study is based primarily on an analysis of official results from the 1921 and 1930 population censuses. However, it also takes into account the limitations of these sources; the research is therefore supplemented by an analysis of contemporary newspapers, which at least partially enable us to capture social attitudes towards women's work and efforts to exclude women from employment under the influence of economic and political developments. Results: The proportion of economically active women in the total female population of Slovakia increased from 22.6% in 1921 to 28.5% in 1930, although this increase was significantly influenced by a change in the methodology for data collection during the 1930 census and the inclusion of a larger number of women among assisting family members. However, the proportion of gainfully employed women within the total female population fell from 16.1% to 15.3%. This decline may have been caused primarily by the unfavourable economic situation. A comparison of women's economic activity in Bratislava, Košice and the districts of Gelnica – rural district, Košice – rural district and Námestovo revealed the differing employment opportunities in large cities, industrial areas and predominantly agricultural regions. Although earning women in Slovakia were most heavily represented in agriculture, in urban areas they were more prominently employed in industry, commerce and finance, transport, the public service and the liberal professions. In terms of marital status, single women and widows were considerably over-represented among gainfully employed women, whereas married women participated in the labour market to a significantly lesser extent. Conclusion: Although women were gradually entering a broader range of occupations, their employment continued to be limited primarily by the country's economic structure, persistent gender stereotypes, low levels of qualification, and political and socio-economic developments. Although the circumstances of the First World War altered women's position both within the family and in the labour market, since many women replaced men in jobs during the war years and became the primary breadwinners of their households, nevertheless, during the interwar period, it was not possible to completely dispel stereotypical notions regarding a woman's primary role in the home and family. Particularly during the Great Depression and then from autumn 1938 onwards, efforts to remove women from the workforce intensified, especially from the civil service and public sector.

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