Abstract
In this paper I analyze the development of debates on pay inequality between men and women. The historical development of the gender pay gap from the perspective of historical sociology was mapped.
I pointed out the specifics of each debates with focus to relevant stakeholders and the effects on framing the issue of gender inequalities in remuneration. In the paper, a debate was presented, which took place in the field of scientific findings.
In particular, studies of sociological studies focused on finding interpretations and lines of argument explaining of the causes of unequal pay were analyzed. While the government's set of state socialism reflected the inequalities in pay between women and men, it did not consider it a discriminatory structural problem, especially since the 1970s.
During the 1960s - 1980s, the time which women spent in paid work gradually increased. However, the issue of division of labor remained unresolved, and women were thus burdened by a double burden.
Despite the declared emancipation of women, there was still a significant gender pay gap. Thus, women's income represented a secondary income.
This situation resulted in the traditional gender contract, which confirmed the stereotyped model male-breadwinner, female-carer. The lower income of women was justified by the fact that the woman was doing other work, and that was the unpaid household.
Thus, the fulfillment of the economic interests of post-war regimes was considered to be the main driver of social change. The emerging economic independence of women during the period of state socialism was largely forced by the state's economic order.
However, ideologically proclaimed emancipation did not bring true equality and women's salaries amounted to only 63-71% of men's salaries in the 1960s and 1980s.