MEHE KODU ON MAAILM, NAISE MAAILM ON KODU? - Tartu Ülikool

SAATESÕNA PREFACE
PREFACE
Overview of the Republic of Estonia Gender Equality Act a sets out that democratic organisation of
life not only means but also presumes equality between males and females in all areas of life. In
addition to the equal rights, gender equality also implies equal obligations and liability as well as
equal opportunities for all persons irrespective of their gender. In our daily life we recognise that it
is still not so. Time Use Surveys have shown that women deal with household care on a daily
basis much more than men. In Estonia, women, a predominant share of who are employed, carry
a redoubled burden in household works, which significantly reduces women’s opportunity for selfrealization
in the society. At the same time, it should be acknowledged that women receive
remarkably lower remuneration than men for paid labour and, in Europe we position in the
forefront in terms of wage gap.
Women and men both wish to have opportunities to spend time together with their children and
achieve as much as possible in their profession. In regard to reconciliation between work and
family life, we mainly talk about three problematic spheres – paid labour, childcare and division of
household care – which are tried to be combined. In order to cope as a parent, partner in life and
as an employee, domestic obligations should be distributed between parents in a fair way. The
collection of articles analyses aspects of combining work and family life as well as access to and
use of childcare services. Estonia can be observed in comparison with other Member States,
which provides a good overview of the conditions we are in and of the major bottlenecks
encountered first and foremost in Estonian society.
The publication gives and overview of the shaping of women’s and mens’ road to education as
well as of their health behaviour. An important aspect is the amount of leisure time and its use by
females and males: whether it is spent by passively watching TV at home or by actively visiting
cultural institutions.
Articles on various topics, twisted together, provide an overview of the positions of females and
males in the society. Can we also confirm the raised question: man’s home is the world, woman’s
world is her home?
Enjoy the reading!
Urve Kask
Head of Population and Social Statistics Department
a Naised & mehed: võrdsed õigused, võrdne vastutus: ülevaade soolise võrdõiguslikkuse seadusest. (2010).
Sotsiaalministeerium. Tartu: Atlex.
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MEHE KODU ON MAAILM, NAISE MAAILM ON KODU? MAN’S HOME IS THE WORLD, WOMAN’S WORLD IS HER HOME?