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Education
In 1774 Maria Teresia established a complusory schooling in the Habsburg monarchy but school attendance wasn't still common for girls, until 1940s, girls were brought up at home.
They couldn't study at secondary school and universities. The first public girls' school was built in Budeč in 1842 by Karel Slavoj Amerling. In 1890 Eliška Krasnohorská founded the grammar school Minerva in Prague. It was the first girls only grammar school in Central Europe. -
Aboliton of Serfdom
Clothes were rare in the Middle Ages, and the greatest rarity was Bolero (a short lady's coat), skirt with bones and a dress with precious stones or gold.
In the 15th century the popular folk costumes, hats, scarves or suits were popular in the Czech Republic. After the abolition of serfdom (1781), people began to wear silk or velvet clothing appropriate to their social status and place of life (people in cities dressed better than people in the village). -
Right to Divorce
- The first divorced couple was Premysl Otakar I and Adlata in 1206.
- Josef II started to acknowledge divorce in 1783.
- Divorces became more frequent in 1960s.
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Sport
In the 14th century women couldn’t do any sports. They could just observe knight fights – typical for this time. The change was in 1900. Women could play tennis and golf. In the same year they could start at the Olympic games. In 1928 women started doing gymnastics. The Czech republic has had a really famous gymnast Věra Čáslavká. She won 7 olympic medals. Now women can do almost every sports. -
Right to work
1900-1918 long working hours, low salary, no holiday
1918 new working conditions - no night shifts
1948-1989 everybody had to work, better conditions for mothers (creches, nurseries, kidergartens) -
Right to Vote
The campaign began in the middle of 19th century under Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In 1861, women could vote and be elected, but only through their male representatives. A big break occurred in 1920 when in the new Czechoslovak Constitution it was stated that women are politically, socially and culturally on the level of men and the right to vote belongs to them. Among the most prominent personalities who fought for women rights were Františka Plamínková and Alice Masaryková. -
Army
A „markytanka“ was a woman selling clothes or food in armies. In 1942 women were officially allowed to be in the Czech army. The first 38 women were sent to the from at the end of January 1943. The first woman in he Czech army was Lenka Šmerdová. At present, women represent 13% of Czech military forces and they still can't perform all the roles in the army. -
Abortion
The worst times for women were the Medieval Ages. Abortion was the worst crime she could do. It was punished by burying alive or in a better case by cutting her head off. In 1918 this punishment was lowered to 5 years of prison. Abortion was legalized in 1958, but until 1986 it had to be accepted by a board of people considering the reasons for it. -
Contraception
Already in a 600 BC a plant called Sylphion was found in a North Africa, which was consodered as the first contraception. Around 1640 condoms started to be produced and they were made of fish and animal's intestines, in 1844 they were made of gum. The first contraceptive pill was approved in 1960 in the USA and 5 years later, in 1965, in Czechoslovakia. -
Salaries
In many countries of the world men earn more than women. Currently in the Czech Republic the difference is 22,5%. It’s the second highest difference in Europe after Estonia (26,9%). The biggest differences are in the salaries of managers.
