Work and Family Balance in Top Diplomacy: The Case of the Czech Republic

While female representation in the top diplomatic circles was almost nonexistent during the Czechoslovak era, the number of female diplomats in the Czech Republic has steadily increased since the fall of the state-socialist regime. Women are currently solidly represented in the Czech Ministry of For...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Politics & gender 2023-03, Vol.19 (1), p.220-246
Main Authors: Fellegi, Zuzana, Kočí, Kateřina, Benešová, Klára
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
20th century
Careers
Decision making
Diplomacy
Diplomatic & consular services
Diplomats
Equality
Families & family life
Family work relationship
Gender equity
Gender roles
International organizations
International relations
Maternity & paternity leaves
Mothers
Qualitative research
State
Statistics
Wives
Women
Work life balance
Working mothers
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Summary:While female representation in the top diplomatic circles was almost nonexistent during the Czechoslovak era, the number of female diplomats in the Czech Republic has steadily increased since the fall of the state-socialist regime. Women are currently solidly represented in the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), but very few (14%) reach highest diplomatic positions. This study examines the main challenges that influence the careers of top diplomats using quantitative and qualitative data, including official statistics and documents of the Czech MFA and interviews with top diplomats and officials. The results indicate that work-family conflicts are the main challenge for all diplomats. However, women are apparently affected more disproportionately because of the existing “double burden” and a specific “concept of motherhood” vested in a deeply essentialist understanding of gender roles. These barriers have origins at the personal, institutional, and state levels that are strongly interrelated and historically and politically path dependent.
ISSN:1743-923X
1743-9248
DOI:10.1017/S1743923X21000489