Kitchen
Corner for relaxation and information
New facilities
Instructions on how to dress nicely for doing household work
Cover page of a magazine for women (1950s)
Exhibition "Women's Corner" in The Museum of Yugoslav History (prepared in cooperation with the Museum of Contemporary Art) in Belgrade presents everyday life of women in the period from 1940s to 1960s. That was the period from the end of the Second World War and the beginning of socialist political and economic order in Yugoslavia, which greatly influenced and changed the lives of the people.
Organizers of the exhibition write:
"The exhibition Women’s Corner has a goal to present visually some of the questions related to the theme of woman in socialism, and through the form “one day in the life of working woman”. The model of everyday life, presented at the exhibition through several segments, social and private obligations during the day, actually punctuates different roles of woman after the Second World War, as well as how these roles were officially, socially presented.
Socialism as a system strived to remove the concept of ruling class and to remove, through principle of general equality, the material, legal and formal inferiority of women. It was considered that a woman should take part in the work equally, that her role is not only to look after the household and children, but that it is a non-static, socially active role, which makes woman available and functional in all the spheres of life, in the field of work, politics, education."
I have seen the exhibition and read a number of texts in the press about it. The conclusion: In socialism women were expected to be perfect. Just like they are today. Although technicalities and magazine cover pages have changed.
Photos by the author
It sounds like a very intersting subject for an exhibition. I think that women’s history often is more interesting, since you can see also other silent groups hisories through ti - like the children’s history. Just compare how much better known is the history of cars, compared to the history of washing machines. As children we are all brought up in a woman’s world, and that’s what makes it very relevant, also to men.
“The conclusion: In socialism women were expected to be perfect.” Yes… the privilege to fail is usually preserved for men :( I think it is striknig how similar these posters are to western osters form the -50s and -60s.
Larisa, your post reminds me of history and role of women in my country. I guess it was exactly the same in all countries on our side of Iron Curtain.
You are absolutely right - “socialistic” women were combination of Bat(wo)man and Super(wo)man.
@Daniel: You put this really nicely, I agree with you: “I think that women’s history often is more interesting, since you can see also other silent groups histories through ti - like the children’s history.”
@Radka: Yes, we have some shared memories and identities being on this side of the Iron Curtain, they are part of what we are, and their aesthetics is sometimes quite attractive, at least from this distance.
WOW! This is such an interesting exhibition, a very original subject I must say. Socialism is always related to men, we never get to know what women thought about it…and not only personally, but in history!
One question for you Larisa, when you say women were expected to be perfect in what ways do you mean this?
Hi Andrea,
I am very glad you find the topic interesting:)
As for the expected perfection, I mean that women (especially in that early phase 1940s-1960s, but also later) found themselves in multiple roles: Rebuilding the country after the war and participating in political life (which in that period involved numerous levels - from local community and organizations at workplaces…generally building ‘new socialist society’); working (industry started to develop in that period); being wife and mother; looking fashionable. In general, the whole society was changing, and with them the role of women and, together with new opportunities it meant new obligations as well. In the period of post socialist (or communist) transition something similar (changes, changes…) happens again.
Wow - I’d love to see this in real life. Thanks for giving us the next best thing.
Thank you, Clare. Congratulations on winning in the first round!
Thanks so much Larisa.
Very interesting, thx for sharing!
Now that in these days I have seen better part of ‘Mad Men’ first season I see with more clarity how profound changes have happened in the lives of women since late 1950s…And visually, they looked quite alike in socialism and capitalism, judging by this exhibition and this TV series.