Birth of Democratic Citizenship

1. This book considers the role of women in political and civic engagement in newly democratic societies. While the focus is on the experience of women in a region of Romania, the book invites extrapolation and comparison with other countries as well. It will provide a clear and useful tool for researchers studying democracy and gender elsewhere.

2. The authors, Bucur and Miroiu, are well-regarded, mid-career academics with extensive publication experience. Miroiu is a native of Hunedoara County, Romania, the place in which the women interviewed lived. This allowed the authors a level of access which would be difficult for outsiders to achieve. This access led to much more frank discussions on the part of the women interviewed.

3. This book is timely in its approach to issues of gender and puts first-hand narratives at the heart of its exploration of the issues at hand.

What is it like to be a woman living through the transition from communism to democracy? What effect does this have on a woman's daily life, on her concept of herself, her family, and her community? Birth of Democratic Citizenship presents the stories of women in Romania as they describe their experiences on the journey to democratic citizenship. In candid and revealing conversations, women between the ages of 24 and 83 explain how they negotiated their way through radical political transitions that had a direct impact on their everyday lives. Women who grew up under communism explore how these ideologies influenced their ideas of marriage, career, and a woman's role in society. Younger generations explore how they interpret civic rights and whether they incorporate these rights into their relationships with their family and community.

Beginning with an overview of the role women have played in Romania from the late 18th century to today, Birth of Democratic Citizenship explores how the contemporary experience of women in postsocialist countries developed. The women speak about their reliance on and negotiations with communities, ranging from family and neighbors to local and national political parties. Birth of Democratic Citizenship argues that that the success of democracy will largely rely on the equal incorporation of women in the political and civic development of Romania. In doing so, it encourages frank consideration of what modern democracy is and what it will need to be to succeed in the future.

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

1. Women from Romania's Past into the Present: A Short Historical Overview

2: Men: Working through Gender Norms at Home

3. Children: The Most Beautiful Accomplishment of My Life

4. Work and Personal Satisfaction.

5. Communities: Beyond the Family

6. Communism as State Patriarchy

7. Facing Capitalism and Building Democracy

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index