1. Sociology of Croatian society: Gender
Siniša Zrinščak
March 28, 2017

2. Gender? Gender = scientific or ideological concept?
„Imported gender ideology”?!? - just a Croatian story? Other European societies?
Referendum on the definition of marriage = Constitutional amendment
Croatian Bishops’ Conference message – :
Gender ideology can be found under different names: gender theory, gender perspective, gender ideology, etc. Although this ideology is spread and present in many aspects of today’s life the ultimate goal of it is not easy visible. The defenders of this ideology label their

3. activities as „noble endeavour and fight against discrimination”, or speak about „pledge for implementation of freedom and equality”, or „for accomplishment of tolerance”. More close look shows, however, aims and methods which it uses. …. Gender ideology aims to human roots. Without firm footing in tradition and culture it starts from the assumption that human being is by itself non-gender being ….
Protection of „traditional family” – as a core concept promoted by the current Croatian Government
Concept of gender reduced to sexual orientations – why and how?

4. Sociological approach
Sex – biological concept – sex characteristics
Gender – social construction – a social distinction based on culturally conceived and learned ideas about appropriate appearance, behaviour, and mental and emotional characteristics for males and females – different societies = different ideas
Gender polarization – organizing of social life around male-female ideals – people’s sex influences every aspect of their life
I. Crespi – „differential socialization” concept = different expectations from M and W (boys and girls)

5. … Europeanization and gender
Does and how the Europeanization changes the post-communist societies?
Literature review :
Gender equality not high on the negotiation agenda
Social circumstances vs. gender equality
Still, the EU as a “window of opportunity” for non-biding issues (depending on domestic actors)
Rising criticism about results:
(1) complying gap theses;
(2)domestic resistance, importance of domestic actors (positions, powers…)

6. Past and present
Past: dual earner model / employment of W (like in SW), but crucial differences: necessity to work, traditional pattern: domestic work only for W, no civil society, no public discussion – family as „sacred” spot without state interventions
Present: fall in employment, influence of religion, economic problems = Re-traditionalization?
Yes, but only partly + differences among countries
We would argue that the emerging regimes in CEE countries could be seen as dual earner regimes, with comparatively strong collective support for women’s employment and for parents and few characteristics of male breadwinner regimes.

7. But these dual earner regimes have suffered economic blows, leading to some losses of state support for gender equality, low living standards and unemployment as a new risk. Their dual earner status is thus more challenged than in Scandinavian countries, and their support for gender equality more fragile.”
Pascal, G, and Kwak, A, 2005, Gender regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, University of Bristol: The Policy Press, p. 67

8. Croatia
Context:
Legacy - traditional gender division of labour, weak civil society / women’s organization (though first shelter for battered women in Zagreb in 1990)
1990s: nation and state building process, influence of religion, weak and late Europeanization
Three phases:
- the absence of a gender equality agenda in the 1990s
- new opportunities,
- (weak) EU conditionality, 2004….

9. Activ. and unempl. rate gender gap

10. Working time and leaves

11. Employment rates

12. Gender in legislative positions

13. Gender attitudes in HR
Labour division in home – three types of jobs found in the research:
1. jobs which are seen as mainly women’s (ironing and washing clothes) or mainly men’s (fixing things in home) – 81% said that ironing is women’s job
2. jobs seen as primarily women’s (cooking, cleaning…) or men’s (pouring petrol), but those who consider that as for both sexes is as high as between 40 and 50%
3. jobs seen as equally pertaining to M and W: baying foods, taking care about home budget…
Source: Zrinščak, S., Geiger, M. (2008) Aspects of Family Pluralization- Models of Masculinity and Femininity, Distribution of Work and Gender Socialization. In: Men and Women He Created Them. Women and Men in Living and Service of God´s Mission. Collection of Essays. Split: Franjevački institut za kulturu mira, pp (In Croatian)

14. And – at the end – what is the gender equality?
How to explain differences among countries?
One indicator:
E.g. the unadjusted gender pay gap, 2015 =
difference between average gross hourly earnings of male and female employees as % of male gross earnings
Causes of difference: unemployment rate and types, breaks of career…

16. Or more comprehensive . ..
E.g.
Gender equality index by EIGE (

17. The Gender Equality Index is a composite indicator that provides a measure — across Member States and over time— of the complex concept of gender equality. It measures gender gaps within a range of areas relevant to the EU policy framework (work, money, knowledge, time, power, health, violence and intersecting inequalities), where the selection of domains is guided by a conceptual framework. The Index is formed by combining these gender indicators into a single summary measure. As such, Index is a sophisticated tool that synthesises this complexity into a user-friendly and easily interpretable measure.