One step forward, two steps back: women in the post-communist states

The role and status of women in the post-communist countries has been and c ontinues to be varied and full of contradictions. This article discusses th e historical, social, economic, and political dynamics affecting the lives of women during the transition from communism to democracy. It argues that democracy, rather than diminishing gender discrimination, has widened the g ender gap through declines in women's political representation and increase s in womens unemployment and underemployment. Recently, however, the prolif eration of womens organizations and the growth of women's studies programs suggests a more optimistic outlook for the future. (C) 2001 The Regents of the University of California, Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.