Greek Women's Struggle for Equality

Take my hand, climb with me, we can go up together, It’s simple, I am telling you, it’s so simple . . . “The River,” Cultural Team of the Movement for Greek Women’s Liberation1

ince it joined the European Union, Greece has been pushed toward Nonetheless, not all women were absorbed with their domestic tasks; modernization at a faster speed. A country still very tied to the legacy some dared to undertake employment outside the home.5 Women also Sof its ancient civilization, Greece has been struggling to find balance played an important role in religious festivals.6 The work of classical Greek between modernity and the country’s rich cultural heritage. Even as the writers demonstrates that Greek women’s desire for self-determination is country advances technologically, the power of tradition continues to exert not simply a modern phenomenon. Plato’s Symposium, for example, tells tremendous infuence. Greek women, in particular, are caught in this para- the story of Diotima, a woman who challenged Athenian men with her bold dox. It is a quiet struggle, but a fascinating one worthy of greater study. Unfor- opinions. Kallipateira, a name quite familiar to Greek schoolchildren, was the tunately, in American schools, teachers who examine Europe often limit first woman to participate—albeit secretly—in the ancient Olympic games. their study to the powerful countries of the continent like Britain, France, Still, despite some advances in women’s political and social rights dur- Germany, or Italy. Although some aspects of ancient Greece are covered in ing the Hellenistic and Roman eras that followed the classical Greek era, the social studies curriculum, American students rarely study the vibrant the household remained the foundation of social cohesion. Throughout contemporary Greek society. the centuries leading up to the modern era, many cultural patterns affecting One significant aspect of modernization has been the change in women’s gender relations proved remarkably resilient in the face of new economic and status—the result of a blend of tradition and innovation, according to some political conditions. As scholar Marilyn Arthur puts it, although Greek gods scholars.2 After providing a brief overview of Greek women’s historical “ceased to hate men,” unfortunately, men did not cease “to hate women.”7 struggles for autonomy, this article will offer suggestions for teaching about contemporary Greek women. The Greek Women’s Rights Movement The emergence of a women’s movement in Greece traces its origins to the late Women in Ancient Greece nineteenth century, although this effort involved only a small proportion of Of all creatures who live and have intelligence, we women are the middle and upper class urban women.8 Even as they dared to demand better most miserable. [. . .] People say that we women lead a life without treatment, these pioneering women did not totally question their traditional danger inside our homes, while men fight in war; but they are wrong. female role, fearing that upsetting the institution of family would be seen as I would rather serve three times in battle than give birth once. threatening society as a whole.9 Medea’s complaint, Athens, Greece, 431 BC (Euripides, Medea At that time, Greek women fought mainly for their right to education; 230-51. G)3 in fact, the first people to speak out in support of more education for women were teachers. In the nineteenth century, women entered Greek universities As Medea’s distressed words indicate, the glorious democratic freedom for the first time, and female writers began to get published in respected of the classical Greek polis was not applied to women. On the contrary, publications like Artemis (1866), Thaleia (1867), and Eurydice (1870- in everyday life, women of ancient Greece were under the authority of 73). Emerging Greek women writers—such as Calliope Kehagia, Sophia men—either fathers or husbands. In fact, Greek law required the bride’s Laskaridou, Sebasti Callisperi, Sappho Leontias, and Penelope Lazari- family to pay a dowry to the groom when getting married. In a period when dou—refected the concerns of women of their time.10 The 1887 publication the nuclear family and the oikos (household) served as the foundation of of The Newspaper of the Ladies (He Ephemeris ton Kirion), by leading proper citizenship, a woman’s neglect of domestic duties could lead to women’s rights activist Calliope Parren, represented a pinnacle of sorts. But severe legal and social consequences.4 A man’s parallel household viola- by 1936, the dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas, followed by World War II and tion, such as the sexual exploitation of young slaves or hetairai, was not a series of civil conficts, stifed this progressive movement. similarly punished.

Social Education 28 or Greece, economic, political, Europe. The question is, has legislation and social development marked translated into real equality for Greek Fthe decades following the sec- women? ond world war. Most significantly, the evolution taking place in technology Economic and Educational and infrastructure, which fueled a mas- Status of Women sive migration to urban centers, and the According to a 2001 UNICEF report, increased entrance of women into the Greek women’s overall social, political, educational and labor forces helped and economic position is still rather dis- bring about substantial changes in the appointing: Even though Greek women position of women.11 In Greece, women represent 52 percent of the population, won the right to vote in 1952, but the they hold only 34.7 percent of jobs. Of women’s rights movement, as a systematic these, only 13.2 percent are at higher social operation, did not evolve until the administrative levels. And women rep- late twentieth century. resent 62 percent of the unemployed.17 The 1980s can reasonably be char- The University of Athens has also acterized as a turning point for women in reported that Greek homemakers, along Greece. The fall of the military dictator- with retired persons, have the lowest ship in 1974, the rise of the Greek Socialist standard of living of any group in the Movement, and the contributions made country.18 by the new First Lady, the American femi- In rural families, these problems nist Margaret Papandreou, paved the way are particularly acute. Women face great for a number of institutional and legisla- difficulties when they attempt to enter tive shifts. A new generation of women’s the labor market as something other organizations emerged, this time with real than farm workers. And the women Greek women dressed in white robes as ancient priestesses per- access to centers of political power and form a traditional, mystical ceremony around a cauldron with who experience the most extreme decision-making. Throngs of tourists and the Olympic flame. The ceremony takes place amid the ruins of form of social difficulty are migrant, visitors brought foreign customs and new ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games in 776 B.C. Gypsy, and Turkish minor- notions of gender equality that challenged Reuters/George Karachalis ity women.19 Cultural hurdles, traditional Greek ideas of male/female language barriers, and extreme poverty relationships and family living.12 force these women into “black labor”—a In the late twentieth century, as a member of the European Union term used to indicate work without insurance stamps, or with little or no sal- (EU), Greece was bound to making its laws compatible with EU standards ary—or victimization through sexual exploitation and harassment. concerning the status of all citizens. In particular, Greece was required to ratify Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome and the United Nations’ Convention pproaching these critical issues with young students can on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.13 This be a complex and challenging task. In order to stimulate automatically initiated a series of legislative shifts and innovations, aimed at A student interest in Greek women’s lives today, advancing the status of women in many aspects of life, such as the educational, teachers might consider using simulations, such as Model UN programs, economic, and political arenas, with particular focus on human rights and in which students become actively involved in investigating various issues violence against women. common to all European countries. Students could take on the roles of Greek political officials, EU representatives, women’s rights advocates, human recent United Nations report about Greek women notes that the rights advocates, or investigative journalists who explore various aspects family law, revised in 1983 so that Greece would be compatible of the questions under examination, marshalling statistical, philosophical, Awith the EU, brought significant changes, including eliminating the historical, and sociological arguments. Using their acquired knowledge, institutionalization of husband as head of household, allowing women to students could construct their own proposals for legislation or social action maintain their family surname, eliminating the wedding dowry requirement, to improve Greek women’s participation in education, labor, and politics. establishing divorce by common consent, and allowing mutual say in selecting Technology can be useful in this process, especially when teachers organize the surname of offspring.14 In the field of employment, the revised legislation online resources for students in the form of an inquiry lesson called a “web- declared equality between the sexes in all employment relations, particularly quest” (see Bernie Dodge’s model at webquest.sdsu.edu). in working conditions, pay, and promotion opportunities. In the matter of Among the online sources available to teachers are UN press releases social insurance, maternity rights and day-care facilities were provided for (www.un.org), reports from the European Network for Women (www. female employees. And, in 1984, rape and sexual harassment were declared ihf-hr.org/reports/royaumont/WHR-Greece.pdf), Greek governmental criminal offenses.15 In 1988, a nine-member Council for Gender Equality, research centers on gender equality (www.kethi.gr/english/Default.htm), which had been established in 1982, was upgraded to the status of General and selections from the Greek press, available online in Greece’s international Secretariat of Equality, under the Ministry of the Interior, Public Administra- English language newspaper, Kathimerini (www.ekathimerini.com). Using tion and Decentralization.16 the Internet, students could also access photographs of Greek women and see Over the past two decades, the legislative system of Greece, especial- films presenting the diverse conditions of Greek women around the country. ly regarding gender equality, has become one of the most progressive in Sites associated with the Thessalonica Film Festival (www.filmfestival.

January/February 2003 29 gr/index_uk.htm) as well as Greek film companies in the United States (for Supplementary Readings for example, www.vermontinc.com/greekfilms) provide reviews of short Ancient and Contemporary Greek Women’s History films and documentaries highlighting the contrast between life in urban and Dubish, Jill, ed. Gender and Power in Rural Greece. Princeton, N.J.: rural areas. Through such dramatic depictions, students will undoubtedly Princeton University Press, 1986. find some degree of parallelism between contemporary Greek women’s lives and the circumstances of women in this country. Loizos, Peter, and Euthymios Papataxiarchis, eds. Contested For example, gender inequity in employment sometimes results from Identities: Gender and Kinship in Modern Greece. Princeton, N.J.: the different paths men and women take in higher education. In Greece, very Princeton University Press, 1991. few women are admitted into technical institutions, which are seen as a male Pomeroy, Sarah B. Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves: Women in domain; instead, women choose schools with a humanistic direction. These Classical Antiquity. New York: Schocken, 1975. educational choices obviously close off certain options for Greek women as they enter the job market. Such choices are clearly infuenced, however, by Useful Information the persistence of social prejudices and cultural models that continue to affect The Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C. provides useful 20 the Greek educational system. information about Greek history and geography, foreign policy, On the other hand, the Greek government has undertaken a campaign business, tourism, and cultural news, links to the Greek press, and against female illiteracy, focused on rural women, repatriates, immigrants the Greek consular authorities in U.S. cities. and refugees,21 and has made an effort to remove gender stereotypes from 22 textbooks. At the college or university level, however, there has been little Embassy of Greece progress in terms of introducing women’s studies programs or including 2221 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. material dealing with Greek women into the curriculum. The state-controlled Washington, DC 20008 Greek educational system leaves little space for such initiatives; those that have Tel. (202) 939-1300 23 been introduced have been spearheaded by the private sector. Fax (202) 939-1324 Despite the limitations, women’s situation today represents a www.greekembassy.org significant improvement from the status of women one hundred Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. years ago. Two useful resources focused specifically on Greek women’s life and education are a University of Kentucky website dealing with ancient times (www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/ viewers, deals with this problem. The movie, starring actress Melina Mer- wlgr/wlgr-voices.html) and the website of the SIGMA orga- couri, who later became minister of culture in Greece, was made forty years nization, which looks at the modern period (women-www. ago, but, unfortunately, the issue of gender violence still remains a problem uia.ac.be/women/sigma/greece.html). today. Immigrant women, especially those who have emigrated from poverty- stricken former Eastern bloc nations, are particularly vulnerable to various Political and Social Rights forms of violence, including forced prostitution. The UN Report on Human Development ranks Greece sixty-sixth of all coun- Although there is very little Greek literature (especially in English transla- tries in terms of women’s representation in government. In 2000, women consti- tion) dealing with such sensitive issues, the UN’s “CyberSchoolBus” (online tuted only 10.3 percent of the representatives in the Greek Parliament, and held at www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/) is a remarkable source of data. only 12 percent of appointed national government positions. Those women With films and documentaries presenting stories that take viewers beyond typically served in the areas of health and social welfare, education, culture, Europeanized Athens, students can explore whether Greek traditional values and employment—fields in which women have had the longest tradition. No continue to restrict women’s autonomy. In particular, I suggest the documen- Greek woman has ever been elected prime minister. Recently, however, Dora tary film 24 Hours in the Village, dealing with life in the Arcadian village of Bakogiann became the first woman elected mayor of Athens. Currently, the Vlahokerasia. For more information, visit www.vermontinc.com/ only female party leader in Greece is Aleka Papariga, a member of the Com- greekfilms/htmpages/home.htm. Teachers can also acquire help- munist Party.24 One excellent source of information on women and politics ful material by searching the archives and library of the Greek is the Greek section of the European Database for Women (www.db-deci- Permanent Mission to the United Nations (www.undp.org/ sion.de/CoRe/Greece.htm). Speeches made by a Greek leader, European missions/greece). Women associated with Greek American organizations Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, about gender issues are also available could also be invited to classrooms for interviews and discussion. These at europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/diamantopoulou/speeches_en.html. representatives can also discuss issues related more generally to immigrant Additionally, Greek American women who live in the United States life in a new country. have founded many women’s rights organizations, which have played leading roles in philanthropic, educational, or cultural activities.25 Many of these Conclusion organizations have web pages that offer a clear view of the contemporary The examination of the status of women in Greek society shows that, while demands of Greek and Greek American women.26 Other organizations legal and institutional change is important, it takes much more to bring that may interest students are the Greek-Turkish women’s organizations about real societal change. In Greece, change may be slow, but gender equal- devoted to a peaceful resolution of the longstanding confict between these ity remains a goal. The impact of the European Union will undoubtedly two countries (such as WIN Peace, the Women’s Initiative for Peace: www. accelerate the transformation of gender relations in the Greek society and geocities.com/win_peace/win4.html). will hopefully advance Greek women’s aspirations for greater autonomy. A persistent problem for Greek women has been violence related to By presenting accurate and multifaceted understandings of Greek life, past sexism. This kind of abuse mainly occurs within the family or the workplace. and present, American educators can contribute to increased cross-cultural The movie Stella, perhaps one of the Greek movies best known to American understanding and greater knowledge of the history, contributions, and

Social Education 30 experiences of Greek women. G 23. Some projects worth mentioning include the following: the “Diotima” private center for research, documentation, and projects, founded by a group of notable women in the 1980s, and some valuable data on women scientists’ activities can be found in Notes Greece’s most prestigious research center, the National Research Center of Physical 1. Eftychia Leontidou, He Hellada ton Gynaikon (The Greece of Women) (Athens, Sciences “Democritus.” Many of these initiatives are supported by international Greece: Enallaktikes Ekdoseis, 1992), 9. organizations, such as the United Nations, or by European Union funds. 2. Nota Kyriazis, “Feminism and the Status of Women in Greece,” in Demetris Con- 24. For statistics and information, see Roubanis et al., and European Database. stas and Theofanis G. Stavrou, ed., Greece Prepares for the 21st Century (Washing- 25. www.greece.org/daughters. ton D.C.: The Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1995): 267-302, 267. 26. Lists of Greek Women’s Organizations in Greece and worldwide: www.euronet. 3. Mary R. Lefkowitz and Maureen B. Fant, Women’s Life in Greece and Rome, 2d ed. nl/~fullmoon/womlist/countries/greece.html; www.aviva.org/eurgrop. (Baltimore, Md.: John Hopkins, 1992), 11. htm#gree; www.geocities.com/win_peace/win0. 4. Marilyn Arthur, “From Medusa to Cleopatra: html; and EDEM Technical Chamber of Greece of Women in the Ancient World,” in Renate Bri- Women Engineers, member of International Women denthal, Claudia Koonz, and Susan Stuard, ed., Engineers’ Organization, WINTEC, at www.edem- Becoming Visible: Women in European History, net.gr/english. In the United States: www.ahepa. 2d ed. (Boston, Mass.: Houghton Miffin Com- org/dop/ pany, 1987). projects.html and www.greece.org/daughters. 5. Michael Massey, Women in Ancient Greece and Rome (Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University Nicoletta Pantziara is a native of Cyprus. She is Press, 1998). studying for a master’s degree on a Fulbright 6. Arthur, 88. scholarship in the Program in Social Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, 7. Arthur, 96. New York. She can be reached at np2002@ 8. Kyriazis, 268. columbia.edu. 9. Eleni Varika, He Exegerse ton Kyrion, He Genesi mias Feministikis Sinideisis stin Hellada, 1833- 1907 (The Revolution of the Ladies: The Genesis of a Feminist Consciousness in Greece, 1833- 1907) (Athens, Greece: Katarti Publications). 10. Demetra Samiou, “The Feminist Movement in Greece (1860-1960),” in Eftychia Leontidou, ed., He Hellada ton Gynaikon (The Greece of Women) (Athens, Greece: Enallaktikes Ekdoseis, 1992), 57-63. 11. Kyriazis, 272. 12. Mary Castleberg-Kourma, “The Impact of Tour- ism on Greek Women,” in Eftychia Leontidou, ed., He Hellada ton Gynaikon (The Greece of Women) (Athens, Greece: Enallaktikes Ekdoseis, 1992), 135-147. The article describes very vividly European Union Employment and Social Affairs the initial “shock” that many rural women went Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou of Greece through, as well as their husbands, with the arrival smiles prior to a confirmation hearing at the of the first women tourists to their villages. The European Parliament in Brussels.

confessions are very humorous and sincere. Reuters News Picture Service/Nathalie Koulischer 13. Kyriazis, 280-281. 14. United Nations Reports—Part 1, “Greek Women Demanding Equal Partnership in All Social and Economic Aspects of Develop- ment, Women’s Anti-discrimination Committee told” (www.un.org). 15. Kyriazis, 281-283. 16. European Database, “Women in Decision-Making: Report from Greece by Our Transnational Partner Fotini Sianou” (www. db-decision.de/CoRe/Greece.htm). 17. Christina Damoulianou, “Women Still Requiring their Positions: What Is Included in the Many-Paged Report of UNICEF that Was Published for the Occasion of Tomorrow’s International Women’s Day,” Kathimerini (March 7, 2001). 18. Galini Foura, “Difficult Times for Retired Women Housewives. Their Everyday Life Is Constantly Undervalued, According to Research of the University of Ath- ens,” Kathimerini (July 15, 2001). 19. Roubanis et al., 33-34. 20. United Nations Reports-Part 1, 5. 21. United Nations Reports-Part 1, 11. 22. Nicky Roubanis, Rena Michalitsis, and Laura Loli, The European Network for Women-Greece prepared this report for Greek Helsinki Monitor in the framework of the IHF Royaumont Project, “A Perspective on the Women’s Status in Greece” (Athens, Greece: 2000). (www.ihf-hr.org/reports/royaumont/ WHR-Greece.pdf).

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