On May 17, Dr. Kateřina Lišková will present her research into “sexual misfits and state socialism” in Czechoslovakia.
With the recently published histories of sexuality in communist Central and Eastern Europe, it is becoming clear that: first, the ‘Eastern’ histories differ from the well-known narrative of the liberationist 1960s stemming from the Western situation, in which the social movements clamored for sexual freedoms; and second, that sexual and gender developments in the Cold War East differ from country to country, based on the specificities of local political cultures. However, socialist countries shared several structural attributes: the early and universal push for gender equalization and the crucial role of expertise in liberalizing sexual mores.
In this context, we might speak about socialist sexual citizenship that bestowed gender equality, granted access to abortion and in some countries decriminalized homosexuality dozen(s) of years before similar freedoms were afforded to the citizens of capitalist West.
More information about the lecture
Organiser
Leiden Queer History Network
Date
17 May
Time
15:00 – 17:00
