ABSTRACT
The socialist transformation in Eastern Europe shook the foundation of traditional family life. Within years of the revolution, women entered the workforce in large numbers and began to occupy positions which had been previously reserved for men. Never before in the history of gender relations has there been such an overnight transformation in the situation of women. The fact of these changes goes undisputed. There is disagreement, however, about whether their impact was limited to the creation of formal equality between the sexes, or whether they had a much deeper influence on gender relations.
