The transition period is bringing about changes in the social and political system, the system of land property, social organizations, social security and legislation, organization of production and employment, education and everyday life. The macro-level changes have their effects on the situation of rural people and rural women.
Although all the project countries are different, some generalizations concerning the situation of rural women in the first half of the 1990s can be made:
1. Women make up the majority of the rural population in CEE countries, and represent the oldest age groups (over 65 years old).
2. The role of agriculture as a source of employment is decreasing in rural areas.
However, the largest group of rural women in the project countries are women farmers in Poland. The number of private women farmers is increasing with the privatization of agricultural production in some countries, while the agricultural population and the number of agricultural workers are decreasing. Many rural women are working occasionally in less demanding jobs or only in the household.
3. One of the main problems of rural women confront in CEE countries is unemployment combined with a lack of diversification in employment; in many countries unemployment of rural women is more common than that of rural men.
4. Social and political changes in CEE countries have been difficult; many rural people -
- especially women -- have lost their jobs, as well as the social and cultural services formerly available in the village. Unemployment is followed by social problems such as alcoholism, malnutrition, crimes and illness.
5. The level of education is low in rural areas, and rural women are less educated than rural men. Education, training and extension in home economics, nutrition and rural entrepreneurship are particularly needed.
6. The participation and interest of women in public life and in political decision-making is low at both local and national levels.
7. The family size and number of children is relatively small. Inside families, household activities, household management and infant and child care are women's responsibilities. The level of household technology is quite low.
8. Rural women suffer from a lack of positive role models, and young girls have a strong tendency to migrate from rural areas.
9. Lack of self-confidence and self-awareness are typical of rural women.
This survey should trigger national activities aimed at improving the situation of rural women. Toward this end, rural development programmes for women are needed, and Action Plans in the countries should note the following:
1. The countries differ in regards to the social situation and status of rural women, and thus national action plans are needed which take into account such differences.
2. The speed of transition among countries varies, and thus economic opportunities in regards to proposed activities, plans and programmes, are needed.
3. There are different women's groups in rural areas -- old and young, unemployed and economically active, women farmers and salary workers, and women living in central and in marginal areas -- and thus different activities for the different women's groups are needed.
4. Only rural women were included in the survey; but men must not be forgotten in rural development programmes.
5. The CEE countries included in the project have different social, cultural, historical and geographical situations, and thus Action Plans and follow-up activities should take such differences into account. However, benchmarking and comparative follow-up studies should be carried out.
6. The results of the research represent the situation of rural women in the region during the first half of the 1990s, and thus a follow-up study should be carried out to examine current changes.
