FRAMING FEMINISM IN POSTCOMMUNIST CZECH-REPUBLIC

This article draws upon the analytic notion of ''framing'' to examine the Czech post-communist encounter with western feminism, Western femi nism lacks resonance with Czech women (and men), because most Czechs m istrust utopian and emancipatory ideologies, associate concepts such a s ''women's emancipation?'' and ''women's movement'' with the policies of the discredited communist regime, are disinclined to engage in col lective action, regard themselves as strong women rather than as victi ms, assign highly positive meaning to motherhood and the family, and p erceive feminism to be anti-male. Recent changes in women's life strat egies and orientations towards career goals, birth control, marriage, and motherhood suggest that the gap between Czech and western feminist li ames may be narrowing. As new cohorts are coming of age, as they e ncounter living conditions which are increasingly similar to those pre vailing in other western democracies, and, as the legacies of communis m begin to fade, framing efforts along western feminist Lines may beco me more successful. Elsevier Science Ltd. (C) 1996 The Regents of the University of California.