Pohled české společnosti na ženy v Bosně a Hercegovině ve 2. polovině 19. století
The View of Czech Society on Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Summary/Abstract: Shaped by romantic nationalism, Pan-Slavic ideas, and orientalist perceptions, the Czech view of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the second half of the nineteenth century reflected broader attitudes toward the South Slavic world. This study examines how Czech travelers, journalists, intellectuals, and artists portrayed Bosnian and Herzegovinian women within the context of contemporary political and cultural developments. Christian South Slavic women were often depicted as courageous, noble, and morally pure figures who shared the virtues attributed to South Slavic men, including bravery, loyalty, and dedication to family and national ideals. During periods of unrest, particularly the Great Eastern Crisis and the uprisings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, these women were portrayed either as suffering victims of oppression or as heroic supporters of resistance movements. In contrast, Muslim women were largely viewed through orientalist stereotypes that emphasized seclusion, dependence, and submission within a perceived backward social order. At the same time, Czech observers frequently regarded Muslim women as victims of Islamic traditions and patriarchal structures, while occasionally portraying them as participants in the perceived conservatism of Ottoman society. Following the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech perceptions gradually became more nuanced as direct contact with local communities increased through military service, tourism, and ethnographic research. Nevertheless, many earlier stereotypes persisted and continued to shape interpretations of gender relations in the region. The article demonstrates that Czech representations of Bosnian and Herzegovinian women revealed as much about Czech cultural assumptions and national aspirations as they did about the women being observed.

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