Gender Equality National Report Hungary - European-microfinance ...

In 2003 the proportion of women with a scientific degree was 3.5% in the case of academic
membership, in the case of scientific doctor’s degree it was 11.5%, in terms of candidate in
sciences it was 21.8%.
Family decisions, social division of labour 18
Men’s and women’s places in society display basic differences although the equality of rights
is legally established. The basic unit of society is the family. Women’s place within the family,
division of labour and the structure of decisions - that is dealing with the resources (both
financial and inner resources) determines women’s role and place as well. Women’s role as
mothers and wives and its judgement has not changed in the past years, thus they have to
tackle their participation in the labour market with increasing hardship. The division of labour
in the traditional family encumbers public and labour participation. The extent of taking over
duties between the genders in the family greatly depends on the couple’s level of
qualification, occupation and incomes. Women with low indexes and living in small townships
carry a greater burden; therefore they are disadvantaged in terms of financial resource
attainment and higher participation on the labour market.
Apart from the legal background, which provides legal equality, the practical enforcement of
laws, actions and the network of supporting institutes, the change of social attitude is an
important requirement for women’s greater social participation.
Social equality of men and women significantly influences how people feel and has an impact
on economic development. Healthy population and continuous economic growth are only
possible if men and women can realize their career plans and satisfy their material needs
with equal chances. 19
3.4. Gender equality on the labour market and in the access to programs supporting
the process of becoming self-employed
3.4.1. Equality in labour market participation (employment, level of income, proportion
of part-time jobs)
a.) Gender equality in economic activity Score 3
In the period prior to the political change, there evolved a fairly high level of women’s
economic activity, the majority of women had jobs in specie. The level of employment
reached its maximum possible not only socially but also demographically. The economic
activity rate of women in Hungary exceeded far beyond that of developed market economies,
and it was even several percentage points higher than the indexes of the Scandinavian
countries, which are traditionally considered to be leading economies in regard to
employment issues. Many factors contributed to this e.g. the enormous labour needs of the
ideology of extensive industrialization; the political intent to have maximum control over as
many citizens as possible; and the job opportunities were demanded by women themselves.
Doubtlessly there were negative sides to full employment of women: the encumbrance of
women, weakening of family functions etc. It is also a fact that the negative discrimination of
women in the labour market still remained - despite the laws providing equal rights. Yet, the
increasing economic activity entailed the actual improvement of women’s position. Their
employment helped the financial situation of their families; working outside home enriched
their life, alleviated poverty, and reduced their vulnerability to family and men.
18 Bernadett Csurgo -Boldizsar g. Megyesi: Family decisions, division of labour and social structure in
Social sections Napvilag Kiado Publishing 2006
19 GM manual (source: www.genderpilot.hu)
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