1.Introduction:
„Women in transition” is an analysis dealing with the gender situation in the Czech Republic. It is also trying to present a complex statistical view on the development of the position of women in the Czech society in the new millennium. A decade, in comparison with the whole history of the human race, seems a insignificant period of time, but from the short term horizon, even a decade can provide interesting information, data or resources for prognosis and estimates concerning future trends. This analysis can also become a really interesting source of data for various gender issues dealing movements not only in the Czech Republic. “Women in transition” is a worldwide project conducted by UNICEF.
Differences between men and women are basically of two kinds; biological and social. This analysis deals with the comparison of position of men and women by evaluation of statistical data in the fundamental areas of Czech society. The role of a woman in the Czech Society has definitely changed since the 1989 Velvet Revolution. New influences, trends, opportunities and various ways of self-fulfilment have significantly influenced thinking of the Czech women and to a certain level of the Czech men as well. As yearly statistics show, there are some areas in which the positive gender development has already been achieved
The following text which is complemented with tables tries to present a detailed description of essential indicators and their development within the time regards the sex. There will be data from various fields presented for example the field of demographics, health care system, criminality, economics or education. Unfortunately, certain portion of the data was not available at all or there was a lack of division of these indicators regarding the sex. However, we tried to overcome these drawbacks so as the quality of analysis would not be affected. While gathering the data we cooperated with various institutions dealing with these issues. We believe that the analysis will become an interesting source of information not only for UNICEF.
2.Analysis of the statistical data
2.1.Gender equality and human development
2.1.1.Human development index (HDI)
The human development index is a cumulated indicator of the norms of the society as well as the live norms used in the international comparison of countries. HDI is a kind of barometer indicating the changes of people’s welfare. Data such as poverty rate, literacy, education, birth rate or life expectancy are all included in this calculation. According to the conclusions of the UN, the Czech Republic belongs to the highly developed countries when it comes to the values of the HDI. When considered globally, from this viewpoint, it belongs to the elite countries. The positive trend of this indicator (i.e. growth) is certainly a reason for being optimistic.
Tab. 1 Human development index for Czech republic
1990 / 1995 / 2000 / 2005 / 2007Human development index (HDI by UN) / 0,847 / 0,857 / 0,868 / 0,894 / 0,903
Source:
Interesting fact, in 2007, the last year monitored, the first position of the scale was occupied by Norway, where the HDI was 0,971 whereas African Niger ended up on the last position with the HDI of only 0,340. Average value of this indicator within the European Union in the respective year was 0,937, which means that the Czech Republic reaches below the average values. However, when we consider Europe as a whole, with the value of 0,902, the Czech Republic is slightly above the average.
2.1.2.Gender development index
GDI is one of the crucial comparing indices calculated and subsequently presented by the UN. Its main objective is to show the inequalities between men and women with the help of various monitored indicators such as life expectancy, the level of education and incomes.
The following table presents the findings of the last 15 years. As in the case of HDI indicator, we can observe a positive development up to 2007 and at the same time, from this point of view, we can present the Czech Republic as a highly developed country. A much more detailed evaluation of a position of the women in the Czech society is further on dealt with in this whole document called “Women in transition”.
Tab. 2 Gender development index in the Czech republic
1995 / 2000 / 2005 / 2007Gender development index (GDI by UN) / 0,864 / 0,846 / 0,887 / 0,900
Source:
When talking about this imaginary scale, we can see that in 2007 the Czech Republic was holding a really flattering 31st position. The first position was occupied by Australia (0,966) and the last position was still held by Niger (0,308).
2.1.3.GDP
GDP or gross domestic product is a summarized monetary value of estates and services produced in a specific area during a specific period of time. GDP per capita (inhabitant) is a data which is calculated when the total value of GDP is divided by the number of inhabitants. This piece of information then functions as the fundamental macroeconomic statistics for international comparison.
Tab. 3 GDP per capita
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009GDP per capita (in PPS) / 13 041 / 13 892 / 14 421 / 15 215 / 16 261 / 17 058 / 18 217 / 19 948 / 20 145 / 18 960
This table presents the development of GDP per capita within the last decade. The average purchase power of 1 PPS matched the average purchase power of 1 EUR in the EU27 countries. The lowest value can be found in 2000. It is true, that within the last ten years this indicator rose by almost 6000 units PPS but it is also necessary to realize that the last years of the monitored period of time showed a decreasing deviation from the 10-year maximum in 2008. The 2009 value is even lower than the value of this indicator from 2007. The decrease of last year can be ascribed to the global recession, which affected the Czech Republic as well. Nowadays, this area is experiencing a positive development and therefore the views are more optimistic. The following table deals with a very important macroeconomic indicator, i.e. the pace of the growth of the GDP.
Tab. 4 GDP growth
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Gross domestic product – growth (%) / 3,6 / 2,5 / 1,9 / 3,6 / 4,5 / 6,3 / 6,8 / 6,1 / 2,5 / -4,1
The pace of the GDP growth shows a percent change of the real GDP in comparison with the previous year. Since 2002 until 2006 there was a gradual increase of the percent values, when the pace of the growth of the Czech GDP reached maximum of 6,8%. In 2007, the growth of the GDP was still more than 6%. As a result of the worldwide recession the growth of the GDP was firstly slowed down in 2008 and finally there was a decrease in the real GDP in 2009. According to the latest prognosis, the economics is recovering.
2.1.4.Wage gap between men and women
Wages evaluation is one of the elementary comparison indicators of the position of men and women in society. Simple overview of the differences presented in the following table of wages cannot fully illustrate the differences between the two sexes. What is obvious from the first look at the table is the fact that men have a better reward for their work performance than women do. In 2000 the difference between the wages was nearly 30% and since 2002 has this number been decreased to 25%. Despite the rise in the average wages, this number, with smaller deviations, is still valid. Simply said, the rise of the average wages of the whole population, men and women, has been constant.
Tab. 5Annual average of monthly wages in the national economy
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Annual average of monthly wages / 13 614 / 14 793 / 15 866 / 16 917 / 18 041 / 18 992 / 20 219 / 21 694 / 23 430 / 24 246
Males / 15 839 / 17 124 / 17 853 / 19 061 / 20 235 / 21 268 / 22 589 / 24 238 / 26 346 / 27 223
Females / 11 105 / 12 229 / 13 315 / 14 224 / 15 153 / 15 966 / 17 039 / 18 238 / 19 509 / 20 371
Difference between F/M wages / 4 734 / 4 895 / 4 538 / 4 837 / 5 082 / 5 302 / 5 550 / 6 000 / 6 837 / 6 852
It is really difficult to clearly evaluate this indicator and the relationships resulting from it. This numeral calculation in no way reflects all factors that may be influencing the differences in the men and women wages. When conducting a more detailed research we would for example find out that women, from the long term point of view, have lower number of weekly working hours. Despite the ongoing emancipation of the Czech society, sick children and maternity leave are still women’s domain. Another factor having an influence on the numeral results is the fact, that there are far less businesswomen than businessmen etc.
2.2.Population
The absolute number of inhabitants of the Czech Republic has already for several years been over 10 million. According to the amount of inhabitants, the Czech Republic belongs among the first half of the member countries of the European Union, but after its last enlargement, its share counts only for 2%. The amount of inhabitants of a country is based on a regularly carried out Enumeration of people, houses and flats. The issued amount of inhabitants stems from the latest Enumeration of people, houses and flats performed in 2001. This amount is yearly altered with numbers of the newborn and the deceased as provided by the registry office as well as with the amounts of the emigrated and the immigrated. The number of foreigners whose visas are valid for more than 90 days as well as the number of foreigners with acknowledged asylum have been included into this statistics since 2001 and since 1st May 2004 also the number of the EU citizens with a temporary permission to stay in the Czech Republic as well as the inhabitants of the third world countries with long-term stay have been included into this statistics.
Tab. 6 The Population of the Czech Republic male/female 2000 - 2010
2000 / 2005 / 2010Male / Female / Male / Female / Male / Female
Total population / 5 001 062 / 5 277 036 / 4 980 913 / 5 239 664 / 5 157 197 / 5 349 616
0-4 year / 233 628 / 221 463 / 239 670 / 225 941 / 289 132 / 275 413
0-17 year / 1 083 683 / 1 031 149 / 983 157 / 933 199 / 947 896 / 899 115
18-59 year / 3 162 568 / 3 127 740 / 3 167 103 / 3 120 599 / 3 227 592 / 3 112 127
60+ year / 754 811 / 1 118 147 / 830 653 / 1 185 866 / 981 709 / 1 338 374
The number of inhabitants has reached the amount of 10 506 0813 people by 1st January 2010. More than a half, 5 349 616, counts for the absolute number of female inhabitants. The following chart illustrates the development within the individual age groups during the last decade. The values within the specific age groups changed only by tenths of percents between the years 2000 and 2005. Since 2006 there has been a gradual decrease in the share of the female population in society. This decrease counts for 0,4% within the last ten years. Although when considered in global, female population long lastingly prevails over the men population; the only partial category in which the female population actually prevails the male population is the “Age 60+” category. Nevertheless, this group has also witnessed a decrease of 2% within the last decade.
Tab. 7 The share of females on the total population shown across group categories
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010Women share on total pop. / 51,3% / 51,3% / 51,3% / 51,3% / 51,3% / 51,3% / 51,2% / 51,1% / 51,0% / 50,9% / 50,9%
Age 0-4 / 48,7% / 48,6% / 48,6% / 48,6% / 48,6% / 48,5% / 48,6% / 48,6% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,8%
Age 0-17 / 48,8% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7% / 48,7%
Age 18-59 / 49,7% / 49,7% / 49,7% / 49,7% / 49,7% / 49,6% / 49,5% / 49,4% / 49,3% / 49,1% / 49,1%
Age 60+ / 59,7% / 59,5% / 59,4% / 59,2% / 59,0% / 58,8% / 58,6% / 58,4% / 58,1% / 57,9% / 57,7%
The rate of natural population increase informing about the difference between the number of live newborn kids and the number of deceased people in the same area within the period of ten years is also a significant population indicator. Although the values from the beginning of the millennium reached negative side, the development within the last few years is positive. The highest natural population increase was recorded in 2008, on the other hand, the lowest in 2000.
Tab. 8 Rate of natural population increase ( per 1 000 pop.)
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Rate of natural population increase / -1,8 / -1,7 / -1,5 / -1,7 / -0,9 / -0,6 / 0,1 / 1,0 / 1,4 / 1,0
2.3.Natality
2.3.1.Natality
Natality or the birth rate can be expressed by several indicators. The most often used one is the crude birth rate, which states, the number of children born per 1000 inhabitants of the mid-year population in the respective year.
Tab. 9 Crude birth rate ( per 1 000 population)
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Crude birth rate / 8,8 / 8,9 / 9,1 / 9,2 / 9,6 / 10,0 / 10,3 / 11,1 / 11,5 / 11,3
The lowest crude birth rate can be found at the beginning of the relevant decade i.e. years 1999-2001. Until 2008 there was a positive phenomenon of increasing of the crude birth rate. In 2009, however, a slight decrease was recorded. Just for the interest, in 1991 this value indicator reached 12,5% and in 1975 the number was as high as 19,2%. There are several influences supporting the ever-increasing birth rate of the past few years, the most significant of these being the childbearing activity of strong 1970s generation. At this moment, we can hardly foresee what the development of this indicator will be in the future, as the spectrum of the influences on the crude birth rate is really wide. Surely enough, the development of local (as well as the worldwide) economical situation, possibly the amount and rate of applied governmental means, which might influence planning of and deciding about maternity or parenthood will play their roles.
The following table shows the specific pace of birth rate of the 15-19 age group. This indicator reached its minimum in 2005 and its maximum in 2000. Despite the convex character of this development and also the fact that the numbers were increasing in the last few years, it is necessary for us to realize that within the last decade the above mentioned group has suffered a decrease of the birth rate by 1,4%.
Tab. 10 Age-specific birth rate 15-19, per 1 000 women
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Age-specific birth rate / 13,2 / 11,5 / 11,6 / 11,4 / 11,3 / 10,9 / 11,0 / 11,2 / 11,5 / 11,8
Another table adds an overview of the proportion in live births according to the sex of the new-born children. From the total number of live births in the last decade, more than half of the children were boys. The proportion within the monitored years was always the same 51/49 with a minute deviation in 2006, when the proportion of boys was increased by 1%. The following text deals with the proportion of males and females in the various age groups.
Tab. 11 Proportion of boys/girls in live births
2001 / 2003 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Boys / 46 616 / 48 131 / 52 453 / 54 612 / 58 475 / 61 326 / 60 368
Boys % / 51% / 51% / 51% / 52% / 51% / 51% / 51%
Girls / 44 099 / 45 554 / 49 758 / 51 219 / 56 157 / 58 244 / 57 980
Girls % / 49% / 49% / 49% / 48% / 49% / 49% / 49%
2.3.2.Fertility
Another important indicator which has a closer look on the reproduction of population is fertility. Total fertility shows the average number of children who would have been born to a single woman on the presumption of fixed fertility and zero mortality until their 50 years of age.
Tab. 12 Total fertility rate (per 1 000 women; 15-49 year)
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Total fertility rate / 1,14 / 1,15 / 1,17 / 1,18 / 1,23 / 1,28 / 1,33 / 1,44 / 1,50 / 1,49
This indicator shows an increase within the last ten years, except for the slight decrease shown in 2009. The highest rate of the total fertility can be seen in 2008 and, on the other hand, the lowest rate can be seen in 2000. The flashback to the history of fertility is also very interesting. Just for illustration, in the 1990s there was a rapid decrease in the total fertility from 1,89 in 1990 to the minimum value of 1,13 in 1999. When comparing the statistics of the total fertility and crude birth rate, it is obvious that these two quantities shared a similar trend of development. However, before the year 1990 the values of the total fertility reached utterly different dimensions. The lowest statistics were hunting between 1,8-1,9 (second half of the 1960s and 1980s); the highest statistics can be found in the 1950s – the total fertility even reached the level of 2,5.
2.3.3.Non-marital births
A marriage is no longer such an important factor when it comes to deciding whether to have a baby or not as it used to be in the previous years. The next table deals with the share of non-marital births of children. What does it say?
Tab. 13 Shares of non-marital births
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Share of non-marital births
(% of total l.births) / 21,8 / 23,5 / 25,3 / 28,5 / 30,6 / 31,7 / 33,3 / 34,5 / 36,3 / 38,8
Share of non-marital births
to mothers under age 20 / 65,8 / 71,6 / 76,8 / 81,8 / 85,2 / 86,7 / 87,7 / 88,2 / 89,3 / 92,4
On the first line, there we can see the share of non-marital births in a particular calendar year. What is obvious from the table is, that within the last decade this share notably increased. Looking further back to history, we find out that in the revolutionary year 1989 this share was only 7,9%; in 1995 it counted for as much as 15,6% and in 2001 this share reached 21,8%. Last year’s findings approach the borderline of 40%. These numbers clearly show that the Czech men and women gradually lose trust in the importance of being married and they therefore prefer a more liberal way of cohabitation, even though there might already be a baby on the way. The ever-increasing number of single mothers is helped with the fact, that Czech society is long lastingly atheistic i.e. it does not follow the traditionally conservative standards of a religious society. The fact that quite a lot of women want to have a baby but still they are not interested in a life according to a standard partnership pattern also plays a significant role.
On the second line there is the group of mothers under twenty years of age analysed, where there the index of birth rate is more than two times higher than within the total female population. In 2009, the total amount of children born outside marriage even exceeded 90%.
With reference to the previous paragraph, a question arises: “What is the average age of females at their first birth? The answer to this question is to be found in the following table.
Tab. 14 Average age of females at time of first birth
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009Average age / 24,9 / 25,3 / 25,6 / 25,9 / 26,3 / 26,6 / 26,9 / 27,1 / 27,3 / 27,4
This table shows the development of an average age of women at their first birth. This index has also been constantly and regularly increasing in the new millennium. There can be various reasons, of course, some of these may be the fact that women nowadays are more career oriented, they enjoy the advantages of life without commitments; the others may be the wide selection of available contraception as well as the increasing responsibility of parents to be. The last decade witnessed an increase in the age of primiparas by 2,5 years. 20 years ago this indicator was hunting around the average age of 22,5. Beginning of this significant increase can be seen in the first half of 1990s and it still goes on.
2.3.4.Legally induced abortions
Abortion rate is a very specific phenomenon, which is closely bound to the fundamental pillars of reproduction of population – birth rate and mortality rate. Abortion rate is influenced by various factors such as legislation regulating performance of abortions; methods, extension and availability of contraception or for example social background. There can also be other factors such as religion, education, economical situation and last but not least reproductive health of the society. The next table shows some of the basic statistical characteristics of abortions of the Czech females.